Longtime sports personality Skip Bayless is certainly not a huge fan of Victor Wembanyama, as he continues his disdain for the Frenchman in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

Bayless called out the 22-year-old on X right around tip-off, saying, "Wembanyama: MOST OVERPROTECTED PLAYER IN THE NBA."

And the Frenchman has now provided Bayless more material than he already has to bash on him, after being assessed a Flagrant 1 foul on Karl-Anthony Towns in the third quarter. One more of these, and Wemby will be out for a game.

This is not the first time there has been controversy surrounding Wemby and the whistle in this series. Just in Game 3, Wembanyama's shove on Jalen Brunson quickly became one of the series' biggest talking points.

Officials initially did not call a foul on the play, and the league's review brought even more attention to the sequence. The NBA later acknowledged it had missed the foul, but did not upgrade the contact to a Flagrant 1.

And, of course, Bayless was not letting it go so easily, as he took to X once again to showcase his disapproval. Bayless believes the NBA is protecting Wemby as the league's new face.

“NO WAY WAS THE NBA GOING TO DO THE CORRECT THING AND UPGRADE WEMBY’S UNCALLED FOUL TO THE FLAGRANT ON JALEN BRUNSON THAT IT OBVIOUSLY GLARINGLY WAS. THE ALIEN IS NOW THE FACE OF THE LEAGUE, THE NEW RATINGS MAGNET, THE MOST PROTECTED PLAYER IN THE NBA. THIS IS EXHIBIT A.”

More context would be required from Bayless' X posts. Wembanyama already carried two playoff flagrant points after receiving a Flagrant 2 against the Minnesota Timberwolves earlier in the postseason, making any upgrade consequential.

This controversy was just the beginning of a much larger frustration that filled the arena.

Game 3  Physicality Adds to the Star Protection Debate

Game 3 was a physical battle from the onset, with several whistles from both sides.

Knicks head coach Mike Brown criticized the officiating after the game, pointing to a free-throw disparity in the second half. The Spurs finished the night shooting 32 free throws compared to just 22 for the Knicks. 

Brunson kept his response short when reporters asked him about the entire sequence with Wembanyama. He said, “Whatever you saw is what you saw.”

Regardless of the officiating, the Knicks are now just a win away from their first NBA championship since 1973 after taking a 3-1 series lead at Madison Square Garden.

The next game is in San Antonio, where the Knicks have already won twice in this series. Only one time in history has a 3-1 comeback ever been pulled off, so Wemby and the Spurs need to pull off a miracle right about now.

So, do you think Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs will be able to defend home court, or is it too late? Let us know your opinions in the comments.

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Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Joy Bassy