Thanks to a monster performance against a more experienced New York Knicks team, Victor Wembanyama threw the game ball into the stands to show how hyped up he was. The thing is, the San Antonio Spurs rookie didn’t expect how hefty the fine was for his viral ball-throw.
During that particular game, the Spurs went home with a close 130-126 win over New York. Wembanyama filled the stat sheets by posting 40 points, 20 rebounds, seven assists, and two steals in 37 minutes on the court. Devin Vassell contributed 23 points and dished seven dimes, while Keldon Johnson made 17 points as a reserve.
The Knicks, meanwhile, had a big game from Jalen Brunson when the All-Star guard dropped a career-high 61 points against San Antonio. Josh Hart added a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Miles McBride tallied 20 points and six rebounds.
Once it was clear San Antonio was going to win the hotly-contested game, the leading candidate for Rookie of the Year took the ball and threw it to the fans watching from the stands. Thanks to a monster performance and a big win against a contending team, the Spurs rookie was visibly hyped after.
San Antonio Spurs Rookie Victor Wembanyama Shocked About Fine For Viral Ball-Throw
Due to his actions, the league imposed a $25,000 fine on Wembanyama for his actions after San Antonio’s game against the Knicks. This information came from a statement signed by Joe Dumars, the NBA’s executive vice president and head of basketball operations.
Wembanyama recently spoke to reporters and shared his reaction on the said fine. In a tweet shared by Tom Orsborn on X:
Wemby on NBA slapping him with a $25K fine for his celebratory ball toss into the stands after the Knicks game: “I remember players being fined for this, but they always threw it in a bad way. I threw it to…please somebody. It’s not like I was trying to hurt anybody,” Orsborn tweeted.
As seen in videos circulating the internet, the Spurs rookie is clearly celebrating their big win against New York. Unfortunately, his actions may lead to harming someone in the stands, which could have been the basis for the fine.
Even with this decision from the league, there’s no stopping Wembanyama’s rise in popularity. Expect more eyes to be on the French star in the coming days, especially if he wins Rookie of the Year for this season.
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