NBA Referees Under Fire After Wembanyama No-Call Escapes Review

Here’s something the league office doesn’t want you to overlook: that non-call on Victor Wembanyama in Game 2 of the NBA Finals wasn’t just a missed whistle—it was a missed opportunity for the league to avoid a PR headache during its showcase event. And now, league sources confirm, the NBA’s review process has officially closed without issuing a fine, suspension, or any retroactive flagrant foul upgrade on the play that left the Spurs star visibly frustrated in the postgame tunnel.

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) first broke the news late Wednesday night: no flagrant upgrade is coming. The play in question happened with under four minutes left in the fourth quarter of what was a tightly contested road game for San Antonio. Wembanyama, driving baseline, absorbed contact from a Dallas Mavericks defender that sent him sprawling into the stanchion. No whistle blew. The Spurs bench erupted, and Gregg Popovich had to be physically restrained from chasing official Ken Mauer after the final buzzer.

Those close to the situation say the front office has been quietly furious all week—not just about the missed call, but about the lack of accountability. Sources inside the Spurs organization feel this isn’t an isolated incident; they believe Wembanyama, the reigning MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, has been officiated differently in the postseason than in the regular season, especially when it comes to contact on his drives. The league’s Last Two Minute Report, released Tuesday, acknowledged the miss, calling it an “incorrect non-call” on a potential shooting foul. But acknowledging a mistake and punishing it are two different things in the NBA’s rulebook.

Why this matters: the Finals are tied 1-1, and the series shifts to San Antonio for Game 3 on Friday. If Wembanyama comes out frustrated or tentative, it could shift the entire momentum of the matchup. The Spurs have already submitted formal video to the league office, per team sources, but the expectation now is that no further action will be taken.

What happens next? The league will move on. The Spurs will have to move on too. But don’t be surprised if you see a memo in the next 48 hours reminding officials to tighten up contact calls on drives—because quietly, the office knows this one got away from them.

Source: https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/2064519028022911193