It wasn’t the best of shooting nights for Victor Wembanyama last night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. But that didn’t hinder the 2025/26 Defensive Player of the Year from being… well, just that.
The San Antonio Spurs star turned the paint into a no-fly zone, racking up a jaw-dropping 12 blocks — setting a new postseason record.
WEMBY (22y, 120d): Youngest player in NBA history with a triple-double including blocks in a postseason game since ’73–74 👀
👽 11 PTS
👽 15 REB (postseason career-high)
👽 12 BLK (NBA postseason record)Also becomes the first player in NBA history to record 10+ PTS, 15+ REB,… pic.twitter.com/uW02m4qfIK
— NBA (@NBA) May 5, 2026
On paper, it was a historic defensive masterclass. But not everyone was convinced it was entirely
clean.
Finch Accuses Wemby Of Goaltending
Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch wasn’t buying into the hype without raising a few eyebrows.
Speaking after the game, Finch claimed that several of Wembanyama’s blocks may have crossed into illegal territory.
“Obviously, he had a historic night, but when we looked at them, at least four of them were goaltending, maybe even a fifth,” Finch said.
Coach Finch on Wemby’s 12 blocks in Game 1:
“Obviously he had a historic night, but when we looked at them, at least four of them were goaltending… You know the value of 8 points in an NBA game?”
Rudy Gobert:
“I wish I had that type of treatment too.” pic.twitter.com/XMk18vFnJO
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) May 5, 2026
“To me, it’s a little alarming that none of them were called. Here’s a generational shot blocker who’s seven-foot-six, who goes after everything, and there’s no heightened awareness that these blocks could be goaltends?”
For context, NBA rules prohibit defenders from touching the ball once it’s on a downward path toward the rim or after it has hit the backboard. That in essence constitutes a goaltend.
The problem? This criterion makes borderline calls tricky, especially when dealing with a player of Wembanyama’s size and reach.
The MAJORITY of Wemby’s 12 blocks in Game 1 were either uncalled fouls or goaltends.
HISTORICAL NIGHT…for the refs 😭 pic.twitter.com/4FbJNEsTEN
— Land of Lowlights (@LoLowlights) May 5, 2026
Yet, Finch didn’t hold back.
“I mean, the third possession of the game was a goaltend, and it was a clean, obvious one,” he added.
“So let’s just say there were four. That’s eight points. You know the value of eight points in an NBA game? It is massive.”
A Debate Bigger Than One Game
Despite his frustration, Finch admitted there’s little point in escalating the matter.
“It’s kind of a bit of a waste of time because it doesn’t really change the outcomes,” he said. “Again, it’s just alarming that not a single one of them was called… I think they’re pretty obvious when you look at them.”
But Finch’s outburst raises a legitimate question: how do officials fairly judge a once-in-a-generation defender like Wembanyama in real time?
