NBA officials are being accused of protecting San Antonio Spurs sensation Victor Wembanyama against the New York Knicks’ physical frontcourt during the ongoing Finals.
The most egregious transgression in the minds of Knicks fans came in the second quarter of Game 2 on Friday night in San Antonio when New York center Mitchell Robinson was called for a technical.
After a clear push-off by Wembanyama, Robinson grabbed his jersey and some brief shoving ensued. Although Robinson’s right arm was seen pushing Wembanyama’s back after referee Josh Tiven whistled the play dead, many fans did not think he warranted a technical foul.
‘WHAT!?’ long-time sports pundit Skip Bayless wrote on X. ‘Obviously not a tech on Robinson. Wemby so overprotected by the league.’
There were a few fans who agreed with official Tony Brothers and his Game 2 crew.
‘Robinson’s hand made contact with Wembanyama’s face/neck area after the whistle,’ one wrote. ‘Technical foul appropriate for unnecessary contact and to prevent further escalation.’
But many others felt Wembanyama gave as good as he got in that exchange.
New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) reacts after being called for a technical
Many fans felt as though the referees were protecting Spurs star Victor Wembanyama
‘Horrible call,’ one fan wrote, adding that it ‘should have been a double tech.’
ESPN analyst and former NBA star Richard Jefferson agreed: ‘This is normal basketball. Now, Wemby, he pushes him back. Now that could have been a technical on Wemby. And then he pushes him back. And then you’re like ‘Oh that’s a technical on Robinson’? You got to call this thing even right down the middle for both players.’
Play-by-play announcer Mike Breen suggested the refs could always let the two ‘play on.’
Had a double technical been called, no free throws would have been awarded to either team.
Instead, Wembanyama was awarded a free throw, which he made to make the game 47-42 with five minutes left in the first half.
New York would then go on a run to take a 56-52 lead before heading into the locker room.
NBA referees Tyler Ford #39, Mitchell Ervin #27, Tony Brothers #25 and Josh Tiven #58 pose for a photo before the game between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs
And that wasn’t the only issue with Brothers’ crew on Friday.
Another confusing sequence took place in the first half when the Spurs’ De’Aaron Fox appeared to be fouled. But without any whistle from the refs, he then proceeded to pick up his dribble and put the ball back on the court.
Again, the refs were silent.
‘Tony Brothers needs to retire,’ one fan wrote on X. ‘Ridiculous refereeing going on tonight.’
Another joked: ‘Who knew you could pickup your dribble, spin around and restart your dribble?’
The refs began taking more of a hands-off approach in the second half, as Breen noticed.
‘They are letting them play,’ Breen said.
Jefferson immediately agreed: ‘As they should.’
