Why Victor Wembanyama is at risk of suspension in NBA Finals after latest flagrant foul

Knicks fans have been clamoring for foul calls against Spurs star Victor Wembanyama in the NBA Finals, and they finally got what they wanted in Game 4 — albeit while trailing by 29 points.

Wembanyama picked up a flagrant foul after hitting Karl-Anthony Towns with an elbow to the face, a call that was inconsequential to the game in the moment but could have major consequences as the series continues.

Because of earlier flagrant fouls by Wembanyama in the playoffs, the Spurs phenom is now one step closer to a potential suspension.

Here's what you need to know about Wembanyama's flagrant fouls and how many he needs for a suspension.

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How many flagrant fouls does Victor Wembanyama have?

Wembanyama has three flagrant foul points in the playoffs on only two fouls: a Flagrant 2 foul for an elbow to Naz Reid in the West semifinals and the Flagrant 1 foul for the elbow to the head of Towns in Game 4 on Wednesday.

Flagrant foul vs. Timberwolves

Wembanyama was ejected from Game 4 of the Spurs' second round series against the Timberwolves after hitting Naz Reid in the face with an elbow. The foul earned him two points toward a possible suspension.

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 11, 2026

The NBA reviewed the play for more discipline after the game but declined to fine or suspend Wembanyama.

Flagrant foul vs. Knicks

Wembanyama was called for a Flagrant 1 foul for an elbow to Towns' face on Wednesday night, though officials didn't see enough intention to upgrade it to a Flagrant 2.

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) June 11, 2026

The foul counts as one point toward a potential suspension.

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NBA flagrant foul suspension rules

Under NBA rules, four flagrant foul points in the playoffs are enough to trigger an automatic one-game suspension. Wembanyama has three flagrant foul points from his two flagrant fouls, so he is one flagrant foul away from a suspension.

With a maximum of three games left in Wembanyama's season after Game 4, there isn't much runway for him to pick up another flagrant foul — but it could linger in the back of his mind in what's been a physical series against the Knicks. 

If Wembanyama were called for a flagrant foul, the NBA would have the chance to review it and potentially rescind it the following the day.

Wembanyama could have picked up a flagrant foul for shoving Jalen Brunson in Game 3, though officials controversially didn't call a foul of any kind on the play. Here's a look back at the incident.

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Victor Wembanyama shoves Jalen Brunson

Officials didn't call Wembanyama for a foul on this shove of Brunson early in Game 3:

Wemby got away with a foul here after this shove on Jalen Brunson 😳pic.twitter.com/VpcpEd8RWT

— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) June 9, 2026

Even after the non-call, the NBA had a chance to call it a flagrant foul when it reviewed the play the following day. The league said Wembanyama should have been called for a foul but declined to upgrade it to a flagrant, leaving the Spurs star at two flagrant foul points for the playoffs rather than three.