"If A.I. got 61, he was getting that ball" - Carmelo Anthony on why Victor Wembanyama chucking game ball away was the "ultimate disrespect"
It has been nearly a week since San Antonio Spurs wunderkind Victor Wembanyama spoiled Jalen Brunson's career night twice. Not only did his 40-20 performance help the Spurs defeat the New York Knicks despite 61 points from Brunson, but Wembanyama also threw the game ball to the stands after the buzzer sounded.
The incident amused former Knicks star Carmelo Anthony. However, he shared that if the Frenchman intentionally chucked the ball away so that JB wouldn't get it, that would have been disrespectful. Melo even asserted that other players wouldn't have committed such a blunder.
"I get the competition," Anthony said on his podcast "7PM in Brooklyn." "There's no saluting anybody anymore. It's super, super competitive, and it's gotten to a point where it's almost disrespect in a sense, right? N***** would've never did that. If A.I. (Allen Iverson) came and got 61, he was getting that ball. If Kobe [Bryant] got it, we stopping the game to give him, even after a loss."
Brunson should've gotten the ball
It has been common for players to look for the game ball after doing something special. Controversy even erupted after a matchup between the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers earlier in the season when someone from the Pacers' staff ran away with the ball after the contest. Giannis Antetokounmpo was not pleased, as he was hoping to get the ball after scoring a career-high 64 points.
Heated altercations erupted on the floor and in the hallways as the "Greek Freak" searched for the supposed memorabilia. He eventually found it, although he claims the Pacers didn't return the right game ball.
Things would have been peaceful if Indiana if Antetokounmpo had just taken the rock, but the team inexplicably thought of giving it to rookie Oscar Tshiebwe, who scored the first point of his NBA career.
Thankfully, no such dispute arose in the Spurs-Knicks contest, even if Anthony thinks it was unmannerly of Wembanyama to heave the ball away, considering that Brunson might have wanted it.
"I wouldn't call it disrespectful if that was the first time," the retired forward added. "Then, you go back to Indiana. This sh*t is occurring. To me, that's just the ultimate disrespect."
Melo gave Wemby the benefit of the doubt
The Spurs rookie has already been fined $25,000 by the league for his actions. So, if Brunson was actually hoping to take the ball home, that might be some consolation for him.
However, based on his comments about the fine, it seems Wembanyama was not trying to ruin Jalen's night. He even could have held on to the ball himself, given that he scored a career-high in points and tied his career-best in rebounds.
Melo also stated later during the segment that he was giving Wemby the benefit of the doubt. Hopefully, the 20-year-old will learn something from this incident.
