San Antonio Spurs coach Mitch Johnson has expressed support for star player Victor Wembanyama after he was ejected for elbowing Minnesota Timberwolves' Naz Reid in the neck during Game 4 of their playoff series. Johnson criticized the refereeing, calling the lack of protection for Wembanyama 'disgusting' and 'nauseating.'
Incident Details
The altercation occurred when Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 French phenom, rebounded a missed 3-pointer and was swarmed by Reid and Jaden McDaniels. Frustrated, Wembanyama swung his elbow backward, striking Reid on the side of the neck. After a video review, the foul was upgraded to a Flagrant 2 for excessive contact above the neck, leading to his ejection. Fans at Target Center chanted, 'Kick him out!' as Wembanyama left the court.
Coach's Reaction
Speaking after the Timberwolves' 114-109 win, which tied the series at 2-2, Johnson said: 'I'm glad he took matters into his own hands... I'm glad Naz Reid is OK, but he's going to have to protect himself. The level of physicality opponents have tried to impose on him, combined with the lack of protection from referees, is really disappointing.' Johnson noted that Wembanyama had been quiet before the ejection, with only four points and four rebounds in 12 minutes.
Potential Suspension
The NBA will review the incident on Monday, potentially leading to a suspension for Game 5. The Spurs missed Wembanyama for 18 games in the regular season, going 12-6 without him. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith called the ejection 'very warranted' but hopes Wembanyama is not suspended, saying, 'We shouldn’t want decisions like that deciding a series.'
