Brunson's Flagrant 1 Explained: Why the Hart-Wemby Play Is NOT the Same Call

Brunson's flagrant one was called correctly, and here's why it's not the same as the Hart-Wemby play.⁣
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On a reckless closeout, what refs are looking for is simple: the defender's grounded foot is in the landing space of the airborne shooter, and the shooter lands on that foot upon returning to the floor. When that happens, it's a flagrant one every time, accident or not.⁣
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Brunson's left foot was planted right in the shooter's landing space. The shooter came down and landed on it. Done.⁣
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The Hart-Wemby play is completely different. Wemby's foot wasn't stepping toward Hart, it was actually behind his own body. Hart then unnaturally kicked his right leg out, split his feet, and grazed Wemby's foot on the way down. That's not a reckless closeout. That can't even be a foul on the defender because Hart created that contact himself.⁣
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Two different plays. Two correct calls. #shorts