Victor Wembanyama flagrant foul controversy, explained: Should Spurs star be suspended for possible Game 6?

Victor Wembanyama flagrant foul controversy, explained: Should Spurs star be suspended for possible Game 6? originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Victor Wembanyama caught the ire of Knicks fans across the world partway through Game 5. It remains to be seen whether he’ll face repercussions as a result of it.

The Spurs supernova was the subject of a flagrant foul controversy after a contentious close out on New York standout Jalen Brunson. The incident — and lack of a foul call — had some wondering whether Wembanyama should’ve been assessed a flagrant foul.

With that, here’s what you need to know about Wembanyama’s confrontation with Brunson, as well as what it could mean for Wembanyama’s prospects for the remainder of the NBA Finals.

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Victor Wembanyama flagrant foul controversy

Partway through the third quarter, Wembanyama leapt while attempting to contest a Jalen Brunson triple. While Brunson dismounted, Wembanyama slid his feet beneath the Knicks star. Brunson landed awkwardly, his ankle buckling as he trotted atop the San Antonio standout’s foot.

The incident appeared to meet the criteria for a “landing area” flagrant foul. No foul was assessed to Wembanyama – neither a common foul nor a flagrant. Brunson appeared frustrated with the lack of a call.

If Wembanyama was assessed a flagrant, that would have been his fourth penalty point of the postseason, triggering an automatic one-game suspension.

What is a ‘landing area’ flagrant foul?

A “landing area” flagrant foul, as defined by the NBA Video Rulebook, refers to a defender “not allowing an airborne shooter to return to the floor safely.” Those who are found to have impeded upon a shooter’s landing zone are assessed a flagrant foul, penalty 1.

The rule was established ahead of the 2017-18 NBA season. Also know as the “Zaza Rule”, the decree was established after the 2017 Western Conference Finals. In Game 1 of that series, Warriors big Zaza Pachulia slid under then-Spurs star Kawhi Leonard while he attempted a two-point jump shot.

Leonard landed on Pachulia’s foot, rolling his ankle and re-aggravating an injury he suffered earlier in the postseason.

Leonard proceeded to exit the game and miss the remainder of the series. San Antonio fell in four games to Golden State.

Can NBA retroactively change foul into flagrant 1?

The NBA, indeed, has the authority to deem missed calls as flagrant fouls. The league has wielded that authority on numerous occasions, including, most recently, when it upgraded a missed foul call on LaMelo Ball to a flagrant foul, penalty 2. Ball was deemed to have deliberately tripped Bam Adebayo during the Hornets‘ play-in win over the Heat. He was not whistled for a foul during the game.

What happens if NBA retroactively changes foul to flagrant 1?

If the NBA were to retroactively assess Wembanyama a flagrant 1, he would receive his fourth penalty point of the postseason. That would trigger an automatic one-game suspension which would go into effect if San Antonio was to send the series to a sixth game.

Will Victor Wembanyama be suspended?

There’s a very good chance that Wembanyama will be suspended. It seems highly probable that the league will retroactively issue him a flagrant 1 given the nature of his apparent violation. If so, that would see him miss Game 6 — if the series runs that long, that is.

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