Victor Wembanyama's NBA career hit a dramatic new chapter on Sunday as the San Antonio Spurs rookie was ejected for the first time—and it all started with an elbow that sent shockwaves through the Western Conference semi-finals.
The 7-foot-4 French sensation, just 22 years old, found himself in hot water early in the second quarter of Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After grabbing a rebound off a missed Spurs three-pointer, Wembanyama turned to protect the ball and inadvertently caught Timberwolves forward Naz Reid in the jaw with his elbow. The play was initially called an offensive foul, but as the Minneapolis crowd chanted "kick him out," officials reviewed the footage and upgraded it to a flagrant 2—an automatic ejection that comes with a minimum $2,000 fine for excessive contact above the neck.
Wembanyama, who finished with just four points and four rebounds in 13 minutes, seemed genuinely confused by the decision. He was captured on camera asking teammate Harrison Barnes, "What does that mean?" before heading to the locker room. The Spurs ultimately fell 114-109, tying the best-of-seven series at 2-2 ahead of Game 5 in San Antonio on Tuesday.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson didn't hold back his frustration, defending his young star while acknowledging the mistake. "I'm glad Naz Reid is OK, and I didn't want him to elbow him," Johnson said. "But [Wembanyama's] going to have to protect himself if no one else does for him. And I think it's disgusting." Johnson's comments highlight a growing concern about how officials handle the unique challenges of guarding a player of Wembanyama's stature—a topic that's sure to spark debate among fans and analysts alike.
Despite Wembanyama's early exit, teammates De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper stepped up with 24 points each, keeping the Spurs competitive. Reid, meanwhile, contributed 15 points and nine rebounds off the bench for the Timberwolves. "We never expected them just to go away," said Timberwolves coach Chris Finch, noting that the Spurs have proven they can win even without their star center.
In other NBA action, the New York Knicks completed a dominant 4-0 series sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers with a 144-114 blowout, powered by Miles McBride's 25 points and Jalen Brunson's 22. The Knicks now await the winner of the Detroit Pistons-Cleveland Cavaliers series for a spot in the NBA Finals.