The Spurs lost Game 4 of the conference semifinals to the Timberwolves on Sunday night after Victor Wembanyama was tossed for elbowing Naz Reid during the first half. The superstar center will not face an additional penalty, ESPN’s Shams Charania tweets.
Wembanyama will not be suspended or fined by the league in the aftermath of the ejection. Wembanyama will be eligible to play against the Timberwolves on Tuesday night in San Antonio.
Minnesota outscored San Antonio 34-25 in the fourth quarter of a 114-109 victory that knotted the series at 2-apiece. The Timberwolves will have to deal with Wembanyama’s towering presence in the pivotal Game 5. The Spurs center was coming off a huge 39-point, 15-rebound, 5-block performance in Game 3 when San Antonio grabbed a 2-1 lead in the series.
Wembanyama was initially called for an offensive foul during the second quarter incident in Game 4 but it was upgraded to a flagrant 2, which comes with an automatic ejection, upon review. The NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year only had four points and four rebounds in 12 minutes prior to the ejection.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson commented afterward that a possible suspension for Wembanyama “would be ridiculous.” That is no longer a concern.
However, players who get ejected from a game are typically fined by the league when it reviews the penalty, so there could be some criticism toward the NBA office for giving Wembanyama preferential treatment.
he should not be suspended. NBA got what it wanted a longer series.
what a league
The NBA front office is a joke. Don’t suspend Wemby because he’s too big of a star? Fine we get it, but no $$$ fine for this when that’s the standard MO for an ejection? Players get fined tens of thousands for criticizing officials but nothing for this??? Skeletor needs to go. I never thought anyone could have been worse than Stern towards the end of his run, but Skeletor has turned the league into a joke all to chase the almighty $$$.
Now that’s star treatment. He should have been fined and suspended. Wembanyama had blatant intent.
I really have nothing against Wemby, but it’s definitely preferential treatment. He lined up Naz Reid’s jaw and took a pretty vicious whack at it. Following this, the announcers were falling over themselves complimenting his “leadership” because he gave everyone high fives when he left the court…
He let anger cost him and his team a game of his services in the playoffs. Let’s just call it what it is!
As a wolves fan, I think a suspension would have been ridiculous. Some intent but also a playoff series. Best of 3 boys – go play
Bad precedent. Every player will refer to this ruling seeking to nullify any penalties punishmens for committing flagrant 2 fouls.
Wemby is apparently the Ohtani of the NBA. If this was anybody else he would have been fined and suspended.
Popular face of the league players like LeBron and Curry only have so many years left. Wemby should be part of that next wave of guys to market. Giving preferential treatment like this is only going to make people not like him. Dumb move all around.
Ejection and a fine are definitely warranted though. Kind of ridiculous that there is no fine. Suspension I’m a little split on. The elbow was measured with ill intention for sure so I can see the argument for a suspension.
of course he won’t. If it was a lesser player, then probably- but not the guy who will soon be the face of the league. the league would never hear the end of it if the Spurs lose the series and Wemby be suspended for any part of it.