Victor Wembanyama and Jalen Brunson, the two superstars of the NBA Finals, came to blows in the first quarter of Game 3 at Madison Square Garden on Monday night – with the San Antonio Spurs star very lucky to escape punishment.
The 7ft 4 Frenchman appeared to see red when he pushed Brunson in the back of the head and onto the floor with his left hand when there was still more than four minutes to go in the first quarter.
Brunson leapt back up and confronted Wembanyama, who appeared to laugh as he turned away to try and block Josh Hart, the Knicks man in possession of the ball. His Spurs teammate, Stephon Castle, put a hand out to try and hold Brunson back.
Wembanyama was lucky to avoid a flagrant foul for the incident, though, and it is not the first time in the NBA postseason that he has been involved in a potentially game-defining moment of madness.
He was ejected in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals in early May when he elbowed Minnesota Timberwolves star Naz Reid in the jaw.
The pair had been tussling for the ball when Wembanyama lost his temper and lashed out. His team went on to lose the game 114-109.
Victor Wembanyama threw Jalen Brunson the ground off the ball in Spurs vs Knicks
Brunson spun around and confronted Wembanyama, who laughed his complaints away
After that game, his coach Mitch Johnson encouraged Wembanyama to look after himself if the referees were failing to do so.
‘It’s starting to get disgusting in terms of when he tries to fight through things, be professional and mature and deal with some of that stuff,’ Johnson said.
‘I’m glad he took matters into his own hands. Not in terms of hitting Naz Reid, but he’s going to have to protect himself if they’re not.
‘He’s gotten pushed down in transition, running freely. At some stage, he should be protected. If not, he’s going to have to protect himself, and unfortunately, stuff like that happens.’
At the halftime interval, the Knicks led 67-54 with Brunson scoring 15 for New York.
Wembanyama was aiding the charge for the Spurs with a tally of 15, too.
