The NBA announced Sunday that Spurs center Victor Wembanyama was fined $25,000 for throwing the ball into the stands at the end of the Spurs 130-126 overtime win over the Knicks on Friday.
Here’s the incident:
Wembanyama scored 40 points and 20 rebounds in the game, while Knicks forward Jalen Brunson added a career-high 61.
Brunson’s 61 points weren’t enough to overcome the Spurs, but they are the second most a Knick has scored in a game, one point behind Carmelo Anthony’s 62-point performance in a 125-94 win over the then-Charlotte Bobcats in 2014.
Some fans weren’t thrilled about Wembanyama’s carelessness with the ball and felt Brunson deserved to take it home after his career-high performance.
Instead, the ball ended up in a fan’s hand after Wembanyama cradled it until the buzzer and then threw it into the crowd in celebration.
It brought to mind earlier this season when Giannis Antetokounmpo ran down the Pacers’ tunnel, chasing after the game ball after he scored a Bucks-record 64 points.
According to Bleacher Report, the Pacers wanted the ball for rookie Oscar Tshiebwe after he scored his first NBA point.
Wembanyama didn’t seem to mean harm by throwing the ball into the crowd in celebration, but the NBA rules are clear.
Deliberately throwing or kicking the ball into the stands is grounds for an ejection if it happens in the middle of a game, and past precedent pointed to a minor fine.
Wembanyama’s performance on the court, though, only increased his likelihood of winning NBA Rookie of the Year this season.
He is averaging 21 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
He’s recorded 39 double-doubles and two triple-doubles in the 65 games in which he’s played this season.
Unfortunately for the Spurs, they sit in last place in the Western Conference standings, but they have to be thrilled with the way Wembanyama’s been playing; the future is bright in San Antonio.
