San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson didn't hold back when addressing the physical play that led to Victor Wembanyama's first career ejection during Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves on May 10. The rookie sensation was tossed in the second quarter after grabbing a rebound and inadvertently catching Naz Reid in the throat with an elbow while trying to shake off Jaden McDaniels' aggressive defense.

Johnson, while not condoning the specific act, made it clear that the league's handling of the physicality directed at Wembanyama has become a major concern. "In general, I do think it's getting to a point that the people in charge of controlling the game and protecting the physicality of the game don't do that, then at some point he's going to have to protect himself," Johnson told reporters postgame. "We've been asking him to do that for a while."

The series between Minnesota and San Antonio had been heating up, and the flashpoint came when Wembanyama was smacked in the head by McDaniels while securing a rebound. As the Spurs' defensive anchor tried to break free, his elbow connected with Reid's throat, prompting officials to review the play and deem it an unnecessary, non-basketball act with wind-up, contact, and follow-through.

Johnson emphasized that the pattern of aggressive defense against Wembanyama—who is both an MVP candidate and the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year—has reached a troubling point. "At some level, it's starting to get actually disgusting," he said. "When he tries to fight through things and be professional and mature and deal with some of that stuff... I'm glad he took matters into his own hands—not at all in terms of hitting Naz Reid, I want to be very clear about that. I didn't want him to elbow him. But he's going to have to protect himself."

The ejection marks the first of Wembanyama's career, regular season or postseason, and it's a stark reminder that even the most composed young stars can be pushed to their limits when the physicality goes unchecked.