The San Antonio Spurs saw their prized superstar Victor Wembanyama leave Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal clash against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night after elbowing Naz Reid.
The elbow hit Reid straight in the chin, causing him to fall down. Wemby was slapped with a disqualifying flagrant foul penalty two, throwing him out of the game, his first career ejection in the NBA.
The Timberwolves went on to win the game, 114-109, and even the series at 2-2, heading to Game 5 in San Antonio.
While the Spurs await the verdict of the NBA if Wemby would need to serve a suspension, the team may have to brace for the worst, especially as there had been a similar case before, involving a former NBA champion.
In 2012, Metta World Peace, formerly known as Ron Artest, was suspended for seven games after inadvertently elbowing OKC Thunder’s James Harden while celebrating a fast break play. It happened late in the regular season, but had playoff implications for World Peace’s team, the LA Lakers.
The suspension caused him to miss the last game of the regular season and the Lakers’ first six playoff games that year.
He missed the final game of the regular season and 6 playoff games.
The Lakers and the Thunder met in that season’s Western Conference semifinals, where OKC won in five games.
If the same suspension were handed to Wembanyama, the Spurs would miss him not just for the rest of their second-round series against the Timberwolves but also in the first few games of the Western Conference Finals, if they advance.
In that case, the Spurs would have to hold the fort without Wembanyama to keep their championship hopes alive.
For now, the Spurs must wait for the league’s decision about Wembanyama’s ejection.
Spurs Head Coach Airs Feelings on Wembanyama’s Elbow
GettySan Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyma was ejected during Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberweolves
After the game, Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson expressed his thoughts about the Wembanyama incident, pointing out that he is happy to see the 7-foot-4 big man fighting back against physicality.
“Just the amount of physicality that people play with him, at some level, you have to protect yourself,” he said. “Every single play on every single part of the floor, people are trying to impose their physicality on you. He’s gotten pushed down in transition, running freely. We don’t complain because we’re just going to play.”
“But at some stage, he should be protected. If not, he’s going to have to protect himself, and unfortunately, stuff like that happens…It’s starting to get disgusting in terms of when he tries to fight through things, be professional and mature and deal with some of that stuff. I’m glad he took matters into his own hands.”
Teams have been increasingly physical with Wembanyama throughout the playoffs in the hopes of deterring his production. He is averaging 21.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 5.0 blocks per game.
Wembanyama Set To Be Fined
GettyVictor Wembanyama set to be fined.
Victor Wembanyama will be fined for the flagrant foul he committed against Naz Reid.
A flagrant 2’s minimum fine would be $2000 but further disciplinary action still depends on how the league views the incident.
Game 5 of the series will be on Tuesday, back in San Antonio.
Major Spurs Concern Emerges If NBA Suspends Victor Wembanyama Like Ron Artest