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Victor Wembanyama’s first career suspension will not have a suspension included as the NBA decided not to dock the San Antonio Spurs big man for the elbow he threw on the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Naz Reid in Game 4 of their Western Conference Semifinals series.
Wembanyama will be available for Game 5 of the series, which is set for Tuesday night, according to ESPN.
Wembanyama was initially fouled after elbowing Reid in the face while double-teamed in the corner after securing a rebound. But video review saw the elbow hit Reid square in his jaw and neck, sending him to the hardwood.
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Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves in game four 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 a Flagrant 2 for excessive contact above the neck. As a result, it is an automatic ejection.
The ejection came with just 8:39 left in the second quarter, marking the earliest an NBA All-Star had been 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, cannot repeat on the court for the Spurs, who eventually 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, specifically the level of physicality Wembanyama receives from opponents during games.
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)
“Just the amount of physicality that people play with him, on some level, you have to protect yourself,” he said, 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.”
Johnson added that there was “zero intent” on Wembanyama’s elbow to Reid’s face, believing a five-game suspension “would be ridiculous.” But it was always the league’s decision in the end.
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)
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Ultimately, they decided Johnson’s stance was correct, and Wembanyama will be on the field with his teammates in a pivotal Game 5 when the series returns to San Antonio on Tuesday night.
