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San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama’s celebratory toss of the basketball into the stands following an overtime victory over the New York Knicks earned him a $25,000 fine from the NBA, the league announced on Sunday.
Wembanyama caught and held a pᴀss as time expired in the Spurs’ 130-126 win over the visiting Knicks, then heaved the ball to spectators on Friday.
The league normally hits players with an automatic fine for throwing or kicking a ball into the stands.
It’s the first time that the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft has been fined in his short NBA career.
The forward-center had scored a career-high 40 points along with 20 rebounds and seven ᴀssists for San Antonio (18-56). His first 40-20 game was his 39th double-double in 65 games.
Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama was hit with his first fine after throwing a ball in the stands
That action typically results in an automatic fine of $25k given out by the league
The No. 1 pick of the 2023 NBA Draft, Wembanyama, 20, is averaging 21.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.6 ᴀssists, 3.4 blocks and 1.2 steals while starting 65 games.
He is leading all rookie scorers by a significant margin – with his 21 ppg about four points per game more than the next closest player, Brandon Miller of Charlotte.
San Antonio plays its next game on Sunday at home against the Golden State Warriors.
