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Victor Wembanyama’s first career ejection will not result in a suspension, as the NBA has decided not to drop the San Antonio Spurs big man for the elbow he threw at the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Naz Reid in Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series.
Wembanyama will be available for Game 5 of the series, scheduled for Tuesday night, according to ESPN.
Wembanyama initially received an offensive foul after hitting Reid in the face with his elbow while he was double-teamed in the corner after getting a rebound. But video review saw the elbow hit Reid square in the jaw and neck, sending him to the hardwood.
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Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs watches the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the second round of the NBA Western Conference playoffs at Target Center on May 10, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (David Berding/Getty Images)
Officials announced that Wembanyama’s foul was upgraded to Flagrant 2 for excessive contact above the neck. It is therefore an automatic ejection.
The ejection came with just 8:39 left in the second quarter, marking the first NBA All-Star to be ejected from a playoff game since 1997-98, according to ESPN Research.
SPURS PHENOM VICTOR WEMBANYAMA MAKES NBA HISTORY WITH FIRST CAREER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Wembanyama, an MVP candidate, couldn’t be replicated on the court for the Spurs, who ultimately lost to the Timberwolves, 114-109, to even the series at two games apiece heading into Game 5.
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson used his postgame press conference to defend the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama, particularly the level of physicality Wembanyama gets from opponents during games.
Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid reacts after an injury during the second half of Game 4 of the second round of the NBA playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs in Minneapolis on May 10, 2026. (Abbie Parr/AP)
“Just the amount of physicality that people play with him, on a certain level you have to protect yourself,” he said via ESPN. “Every play, on every part of the court, people are trying to impose their physicality on you. He was pushed down in transition, running free. We’re not complaining because we’re just going to play. We don’t really care. But at some point, he should be guarded. Otherwise, he’ll have to guard himself, and unfortunately, things like that happen.
“It starts to get disgusting when he tries to fight and be professional and mature and deal with some of these things. I’m glad he took matters into his own hands. Not in terms of hitting Naz Reid, but he’s going to have to protect himself if they don’t. And I think that’s disgusting.”
Johnson added that there was “no intent” between Wembanyama’s elbow and Reid’s face, saying a suspension for Game 5 “would be ridiculous.” But ultimately, it was still the league’s decision.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama walks across the court after committing a flagrant foul that led to his ejection during the first half of Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis on May 10, 2026. (Abbie Parr/AP)
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Ultimately, they decided Johnson’s position was correct and Wembanyama will be on the field with his teammates in a crucial Game 5 as the series returns to San Antonio on Tuesday night.
