The officiating in the NBA Finals continues to come under fierce scrutiny, including from New York Knicks coach Mike Brown following his team’s 115-111 Game 3 home loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday.
Victor Wembanyama had a dominant Game 3, but the Spurs superstar caused a stir when he shoved Knicks star Jalen Brunson to the ground in the first quarter, contact that went overlooked by the officials. The NBA has, controversially for many, decided not to upgrade the play to a flagrant foul.
NBA Sparks Outrage by Not Penalizing Victor Wembanyama for Shove on Jalen Brunson
The Spurs played with a sense of desperation Monday night, down 2-0 in the series. They imposed their will physically on the Knicks, who appeared caught off guard by the visitors’ energy and determination.
At times, however, the Knicks felt aggrieved by the officiating, a sentiment echoed by Brown after the contest. The veteran coach spent almost three minutes of his postgame interview expressing disbelief about the lopsided 24-8 free-throw differential in the second half in favor of the Spurs.
Midway through the first quarter, Wembanyama also got away with blatantly shoving Brunson in the back of the neck. While that sort of altercation is typically penalized with a flagrant foul, no foul was called.
The NBA’s Senior Vice President of Referee Development and Training, Monty McCutchen, has since acknowledged that the referees missed the call. Still, after consideration, the NBA decided on Tuesday not to upgrade it to a flagrant foul.
The NBA reviewed this play and decided there will be no flagrant foul for Victor Wembanyama pic.twitter.com/CRsItTuiS8
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) June 10, 2026
The questionable ruling prompted strong reactions from the NBA community on X.
SNY’s Danny Abriano described the decision as “an embarrassment for the NBA.”
This is an embarrassment for the NBA
If what Victor Wembanyama did last night to Jalen Brunson wasn’t a flagrant foul, then flagrant fouls should cease to exist
This also gives Wembanyama license to keep doing this
Gutless move by the league after blowing it last night https://t.co/ikQXnYtXFR
— Danny Abriano (@DannyAbriano) June 10, 2026
Meanwhile, Sleeper Hoops implied that the league is shielding Wembanyama, tweeting, “Ofc Adam Silver has to protect his golden boy.”
Ofc Adam Silver has to protect his golden boy 🙄
— SleeperHoops (@Sleeper_Hoops) June 10, 2026
The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski also pushed back on the NBA’s decision, writing, “Don’t agree with this. Just like I didn’t agree with him not getting a fine with his Flagrant 2 on Naz.”
Don’t agree with this. Just like I didn’t agree with him not getting a fine with his flagrant 2 for the Naz elbow. https://t.co/cifLqJptcE
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) June 10, 2026
Krawczynski referenced an earlier incident in the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves when Wembanyama was assessed a Flagrant 2 for elbowing big man Naz Reid in the neck, but didn’t receive a suspension.
Jonathan Macri, host of the YouTube channel “Knicks Film School,” responded unapologetically, “F**k all the way off.”
The same popular Knicks content creator continued to go guns blazing at the NBA in another tweet, calling the league “cowards.”
“What a f**king joke the league is. They’ve always been about their bottom line and will continue to be so, even when the integrity of the sport is at stake,” Macri asserted.
Macri wasn’t the only one who described the NBA as cowardly. Jake Asman, a host on ESPN New York, simply tweeted “cowards.”
Cowards. https://t.co/asrpm2EBmq
— Jake Asman (@JakeAsman) June 10, 2026
FS1’s Nick Wright added that, in his opinion, had Brunson not kept his cool in response and instead charged at Wembanyama, he would likely have been the one to receive a flagrant.
“Instead, Brunson was a pro, and Wemby gets to completely skate on it. Doesn’t seem right to me,” Wright weighed in.
If Brunson hadn’t kept his cool and had run up on Wemby, the refs would’ve snap called a tech on Jalen, reviewed the play & 100% have given Wemby a flagrant.
Instead, Brunson was a pro and Wemby gets to completely skate on it. Doesn’t seem right to me. https://t.co/tlRzeaDdVA
— nick wright (@getnickwright) June 10, 2026
Despite the controversy, the Finals now have additional intrigue entering Game 4 at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night. All eyes will be on how the Knicks will defend Wembanyama and whether the referees will permit the French phenom to maintain the same level of physical play he has embraced thus far.
