Victor Wembanyama on brink of suspension after flagrant foul in NBA Finals

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has moved one step closer to an automatic suspension after being assessed his second flagrant foul of the postseason during Wednesday’s narrow 107-106 Game 4 NBA Finals defeat to the New York Knicks.

The result leaves the Knicks leading the series 3-1 and places the Spurs under further pressure heading into Game 5.

The French center now has three flagrant foul points in the current postseason, leaving him just one point short of the threshold that triggers an automatic suspension.

His latest offence, a flagrant foul 1, came with 9:27 remaining in the third quarter when he caught Karl-Anthony Towns with an elbow to the chin while the pair were tied up near the three-point line.

Wembanyama had already accumulated two flagrant foul points earlier in the playoffs following a flagrant 2 against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Naz Reid during Game 4 of the Western Conference semi-finals.

The incident, involving excessive contact above the neck, resulted in an ejection but no subsequent fine or additional sanction.

He also came close to further punishment in Game 3 of the NBA Finals when he shoved Knicks guard Jalen Brunson to the floor; although no foul was initially called, the league later reviewed the play, ruled it a foul, but declined to upgrade it to a flagrant.

Officials will continue to monitor his conduct closely as the series progresses, with any further infraction now likely to carry major disciplinary consequences.