Victor Wembanyama may be facing his first suspension—and it couldn’t come at a worse time. The Spurs’ superstar center was ejected for the first time in his playoff career during Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and now analysts are split on whether the league should take further action.
It all started with frustration. Throughout the series, Wembanyama has been guarded like a pest, with the Timberwolves getting physical and leaving a little extra on every play. In Game 4, the Spurs’ cornerstone finally snapped. During the second quarter, he swung a ruthless elbow that caught Naz Reid square in the face. The referees didn’t hesitate: after slowing down the replay, they ejected the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year.
Some weren’t happy with the call. Skip Bayless took to social media to defend Wembanyama, writing, "COME ON, DON’T THROW WEMBANYAMA OUT OF A GAME 4. THEY WERE ALL OVER HIM, FOULING THE HELL OUT OF HIM. SO HE GOT FRUSTRATED AND FOUGHT BACK. JUST RIDICULOUS."
But not everyone agrees. Stephen A. Smith acknowledged the tough spot Wembanyama was in but didn’t mince words about the elbow. "Damn! @wemby’s ejection — unfortunately — was very warranted. Can’t swing your elbow like that. Very intentional. No debate," Smith wrote. However, he also expressed concern about what comes next. "But I’m praying he doesn’t get SUSPENDED for Game [5], which is very possible. We shouldn’t want decisions like that deciding a series."
The league will now review the sequence. Wembanyama struck Reid after the whistle, and with clear intent. That alone could justify a suspension. But there’s also reason for leniency. The Spurs star has no history of violent behavior, and this is his first taste of playoff basketball. In the heat of emotions, things can escalate quickly. The ejection itself was the right call, but a suspension might be excessive for a first-time incident.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves held Wembanyama to just 4 points in Game 4, keeping him relatively quiet before the ejection. Now, the Spurs face an uncertain Game 5—possibly without their biggest star.