Jun 5, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown reacts against the San Antonio Spurs in the first half during game two of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
NEW YORK — New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown has put the NBA’s decision not to assess a retroactive Flagrant 1 foul on San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama in the rearview.
The league reviewed an incident that occurred in the first quarter of Game 3 on Monday night, in which Wembanyama pushed New York’s captain, Jalen Brunson, by the back of the head, and found the force was not excessive enough to warrant any punishment.
“The league is going to do what it’s gonna do,” Brown said on Wednesday evening prior to Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. “They ain’t gonna listen to me and they ain’t gonna listen to nobody else. I said my peace after [Game 3], and I hope that everything’s consistent on both ends throughout the whole game.”
Brown sounded off on the officiating following the Knicks 115-111 Game 3 loss on Monday night — the first NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden in 27 years. He bemoaned the fact that the Spurs were rewarded with 24 free throws in the second half, compared to the Knicks’ eight, despite both sides engaging in noticeably physical play.
“I never thought I’d be in the NBA Finals and see a team get 24 free-throw attempts in the second half to another team’s eight,” Brown said on Monday night. “I don’t think I complain much about officials or the fairness when it comes to the free-throw attempts. San Antonio is a great team, but it’s going to lower our odds big time if we play Game 4 and in the second half, they get 24 free throw attempts to our eight.”
Wembanyama was the spark that helped the Spurs halve their NBA Finals deficit to 2-games-to-1, dropping 32 points and dominating the interior all night.
“He’s a great player, he’s unique defensively. There’s nobody else like him,” Brown said on Wednesday. “For me, putting a game plan together in terms of attacking him, I probably give myself a C-minus, D-plus, but we can be better. You’re not going to be perfect against him because of who he is, but I know I can help our guys better than what I’ve done.”
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