NBA won’t suspend Victor Wembanyama, clearing him to play in Game 5
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Victor Wembanyama’s first career ejection will not include a penalty, as the NBA decided not to bench the San Antonio Spurs big man for his elbow on Minnesota Timberwolves’ Naz Reid in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinal series.
Wembanyama will play in the 5th match of the series, which will be played on Tuesday night. per ESPN.
Wembanyama received an offensive foul after elbowing Reid in the face while they were double-teamed in the corner after grabbing the rebound. However, video review showed the elbow struck Reid in the jaw and neck, sending him into the hardwood.
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San Antonio Spurs #1 forward Victor Wembanyama stands in the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves during Game Four of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs Second Round 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 due to excessive contact above the neck. As a result, this is an automatic launch.
According to ESPN Research, the ejection occurred with just 8:39 left in the second quarter; This was the earliest an NBA All-Star was eliminated from a playoff game since 1997–98.
Spurs PHENOM VICTOR WEMBANYAMA MAKES NBA HISTORY WITH HIS FIRST CAREER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD
MVP candidate Wembanyama could not be duplicated on the court for the Spurs, who ultimately lost 114-109 to the Timberwolves and tied 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-11 Wembanyama, specifically the level of physicality Wembanyama received from opponents during games.
Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid reacts after suffering an injury in the second half of Game 4 of the NBA second round playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs on May 10, 2026 in Minneapolis. (Abbie Parr/AP)
“Even as much as the physicality that people play with it, you have to protect yourself on some level,” he said. via ESPN. “Every game, all over the field, people are trying to impose their physicality on you. He’s being pushed down in transition, he’s running free. We’re not complaining because we’re just going to play. We don’t really care. But at some stage he has to be protected. Otherwise he’s going to have to protect himself and unfortunately things like that happen.”
“When you try to fight through things and be professional and mature and deal with things, it starts to get disgusting. I’m glad he’s taking matters into his own hands. Not in terms of bashing Naz Reid, but if he’s not, he’s going to have to protect himself. And I think that’s disgusting.”
Johnson added that there was “zero intent” in Wembanyama’s elbow in Reid’s face and that he believed a Game 5 penalty “would be ridiculous.” But ultimately it was always the league’s decision.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama is ejected after committing a flagrant foul in 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 stance 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.
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