Nba Admits Missed Foul Call On Wembanyama Shoving Brunson In Game 3

The San Antonio Spurs have officially made the 2026 NBA Finals a series after taking Game 3 on the road in Madison Square Garden. However, their victory may have come at a heavy cost. After reviewing a first quarter shove of New York's Jalen Brunson by Victor Wembanyama, the league's head of officiating, Monty McCutchen, has admitted they missed a foul call on the play. Even worse for San Antonio is that it could turn into a retroactive flagrant.

NBA head of officiating Monty McCutchen, appearing now on ESPN, acknowledges that a foul was missed on Victor Wembanyama's first-quarter shove of Jalen Brunson and says the league's review is still ongoing regarding whether the play will be deemed a retroactive flagrant foul. https://t.co/W4wAe20h0F

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 9, 2026

While there is no trouble just yet, Wembanyama has put himself in danger with this foul. Should the league upgrade it to a flagrant 1, Wembanyama would be subject to suspension if he were to commit another similar foul.

Wembanyama's absence from the Spurs would almost certainly mean defeat in the NBA Finals. Wembanyama cannot afford to play so recklessly for the remainder of the series.

Here's what to know about the foul and what it could mean for the Spurs.

What happened between Wembanyama and Brunson?

The play in question came in the first quarter of the Spurs' Game 3 win over New York. Brunson and Wembanyama got tangled up during a possession and video shows Wembanyama tossing Brunson to the ground during the play.

Brunson on Wemby shoving him in Game 3:

"Whatever you saw is what you saw." pic.twitter.com/BA8b1tTk5u

— ESPN (@espn) June 9, 2026

Will Wembanyama be suspended?

Not yet. In the NBA playoffs, players are allowed three penalty points before a suspension is enacted. Wembanyama has already obtained two penalty points for his Flagrant 2 foul against Naz Reid in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals.

Should the NBA determine that Wembanyama's shove warrants a Flagrant 1 distinction, Wembanyama would have three penalty points for the postseason, meaning one more flagrant foul (1 or 2) would lead to immediate suspension.

What determines a Flagrant 1 or 2 in the NBA?

Per NBA Rule 12, a Flagrant 2 is called when contact with an opposing player is determined to be "unecessary and excessive." A Flagrant 1 is called when the contact is only unecessary.

A Flagrant 2 is also grounds for an immediate ejection from the game and comes with a minimum $2,000 fine.

Seeing a lot of confusion right now about whether Victor Wembanyama will be suspended for Game 5, so here’s what NBA rules say might happen:

Wembanyama was ejected under NBA Rule 12 for a Flagrant Foul Penalty 2, which officials determined involved “unnecessary and excessive”… https://t.co/KVkHqAvDNWpic.twitter.com/0gPPAxWIOG

— SpursRΞPORTΞR (@SpursReporter) May 11, 2026

When is Game 4?

Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10 at 8:30 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: NBA admits they missed a foul call on Victor Wembanyama in Game 3