In Game 3 of the NBA Finals, with just under five minutes left in the first quarter, Victor Wembanyama made headlines for a hard shove on Jalen Brunson that went uncalled during the game. Monty McCutchen, the NBA's Senior Vice President for Referee Operations, confirmed the oversight, stating, "A foul was missed on that play."

The incident occurred while Josh Hart was bringing the ball up the court. As Brunson and Wembanyama battled for position, Wembanyama pushed Brunson down, leading to a debate on whether it should be classified as a common foul or upgraded to a flagrant foul. The NBA is currently reviewing the play, which could have serious implications for Wembanyama, who already has two flagrant foul points from an earlier incident.

If the shove is deemed a flagrant-1, Wembanyama would be just one foul away from an automatic suspension, complicating the San Antonio Spurs' playoff strategy. Notably, in the postseason, accumulating four flagrant foul points can lead to a game suspension, as seen with Draymond Green in 2016.

Wembanyama's physical play has raised concerns, especially after his flagrant-2 foul against Naz Reid in the second round. He has also faced scrutiny for other aggressive actions in the playoffs, including incidents against Lu Dort and Jose Alvarado.

The Spurs need Wembanyama on the court, particularly given their struggles when he rests. In the current Finals, the team has relied heavily on a limited rotation, making his potential absence a significant issue. Knicks coach Mike Brown expressed frustration over the officiating after the game, citing a disparity in free-throw attempts. Meanwhile, Brunson chose to remain diplomatic, stating, "Whatever you saw is what you saw."