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San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson spoke out about Victor Wembanyama’s ejection from the team’s Game 4 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night.
Wembanyama was ejected after he swung his elbow and hit Timberwolves center Naz Reid in the face in the second quarter. It was the first dismissal of his career.
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San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama reacts after being ejected for a flagrant foul in the first half of Game 4 of the second round NBA playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis on May 10, 2026. (Abbie Parr/AP)
Johnson said he was “delighted” that Wembanyama “took matters into his own hands”, but added that he was concerned about the level of physicality Wembanyama gets during matches.
“Just the amount of physicality that people play with him, on some level, you have to protect yourself,” he continued, via ESPN. “Every single play on every part of the floor, people try to impose their physicality on you. He’s been pushed down in transition and runs free. We’re not complaining because we just have to play. We don’t really give a s—. But at some point he should be protected. If not, he’s going to have to protect himself, and unfortunate.
“It’s starting to get disgusting in terms of when he’s trying to fight through things and be professional and mature and deal with some of those things. I’m glad he took matters into his own hands. Not in terms of beating Naz Reid, but he’s going to have to protect himself if they’re not. And I think that’s disgusting.”
Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid reacts after an injury in the second half of Game 4 of the NBA second round playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs in Minneapolis on May 10, 2026. (Abbie Parr/AP)
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The incident occurred when Wembanyama was swarmed by Reid and Jaden McDaniels after he grabbed an offensive rebound. Both T’Wolves players tried to clear the ball.
McDaniels pulled Wembanyama’s left arm. The 7-foot-4 phenom then swung his right arm back and hit Reid in the neck.
Wembanyama was rated a Flagrant 2 failure, triggering an automatic ejection.
Johnson dismissed any notion that Wembanyama would be suspended for Game 5.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama walks across the court after committing a flagrant foul that led to his ejection in the first half of Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis on May 10, 2026. (Abbie Parr/AP)
“There were no intentions,” he said. “I think that would be ridiculous.”
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Minnesota’s win tied the series at 2-2.
