Is Victor Wembanyama goaltending? Why Timberwolves coach Chris Finch called out Spurs star's blocking technique

After Game 1, in which the Spurs lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota head coach Chris Finch criticized the officials for not calling many on Wembanyama's blocks 12 goaltending instead.

"At least four of them were goaltending," Finch said, via ESPN. "Maybe even a fifth. To me, it's a little alarming that none of them were called."

That game was close, with the Timberwolves winning by two points, and Finch believes Minnesota was lucky that the missed calls didn't prevent the team from winning.

"Let's just say there were four," he said. "That's eight points. You know the value of eight points in an NBA game? It's massive. That means 33 percent of his blocks were goaltending uncalled. If I were to give you a 33 percent raise, you'd like that, right? It's a huge number."

For the rest of this series, Wembanyama's block attempts will surely be more of a talking point for the broadcasts. Here's a breakdown of whether Wembanyama has been getting away with a few calls.

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Is Victor Wembanyama goaltending?

Finch praised Wembanyama's shot-blocking prowess, but he believes that the center gets the benefit of the doubt on potential goaltending calls.

"Here's a generational shot-blocker, who is 7-foot-6 and goes after everything, and there's no heightened awareness that these blocks could be a goaltend?" Finch asked. "The third possession of the game was a goaltend, and it was a clean, obvious one."

On a look back, it's clear that some of Wembanyama's blocks should in fact have been called goaltending. The Spurs center tends to block a shot after it hits the backboard on its way to the hoop, which is a classic goaltending call.

Almost all Wemby's blocks were goaltends/fouls. pic.twitter.com/kiFxdO82u9

What is goaltending in the NBA?

The NBA has detailed rules around goaltending and basket interference to prevent players from going overboard in their block attempts. Players will be called for goaltending or basket interference  if they do any of the following:

• Touch a ball after it hits the backboard on a field goal attempt that has a chance to score
• Touch a ball on a shot after it is deemed on the way down in its trajectory to the hoop
• Touch a ball or rim when the ball is on or above the rim
• Touch the ball, rim or net when the ball is in the net
• Touch the ball while going through the hoop for the block
• Trap the ball against the face of the backboard

MORE: Victor Wembanyama sets playoff blocks record

Victor Wembanyama blocking highlights

In Game 1 of the second round against the Timberwolves, Wembanyama set an NBA playoff record with 12 blocks in a single game.

Victor Wembanyama sets an NBA playoff record with 12 blocks 👏 pic.twitter.com/pe19Hu0zcI

Wembanyama has also successfully mastered the "no-look" block by almost baiting players into taking a shot with him looming.

Victor Wembanyama ‘no-look’ bait blocks reel: pic.twitter.com/wdaHZ0xiWG