NBA warns Victor Wembanyama for media rules violation

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has been warned by the NBA for violating the league’s media access rules after declining to speak with reporters following Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, according to ESPN on Wednesday.

The Spurs suffered a 127-114 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night, falling behind 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. After the game, a Spurs spokesperson informed reporters that Wembanyama would not be made available for interviews.

The 22-year-old center finished with 20 points in 38 minutes despite struggling from the field, shooting 4-for-15 overall and missing all five of his attempts from beyond the arc. He converted all 12 of his free throws while adding six rebounds, two steals, and three blocks.

According to ESPN, the NBA has previously fined players for failing to meet media obligations during the playoffs. In 2023, Jimmy Butler III, then with the Miami Heat, and Dillon Brooks, then with the Memphis Grizzlies, were each fined $25,000 for similar violations.

Wembanyama, a two-time NBA All-Star, received the Magic Johnson Award this season from the Professional Basketball Writers Association. The award recognizes the player who best combines excellence on the court with professionalism and cooperation in dealing with the media and the public.

He has led the Spurs throughout the playoffs, averaging 22.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks in 15 postseason games. During the regular season, he averaged 25.0 points and a league-leading 3.1 blocks across 64 games.

The first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Wembanyama was named the 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year. This season, he also earned NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors, was the lone unanimous selection to the All-Defensive First Team, and received First-Team All-NBA recognition.

—Field Level Media/Reuters