Former Lakers forward Matt Barnes and four-time NBA champion Draymond Green had differing thoughts on Victor Wembanyama’s elbow throw in Game 4 of the San Antonio Spurs Western Conference semifinals series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
During the second quarter of Game 4, Wembanyama hit Naz Reid with an elbow and was assessed a Flagrant 2, leading to his ejection from the matchup. Shams Charania reported on Sunday that the Spurs center will face no further disciplinary action beyond the $2,000 fine that comes with a Flagrant 2.
Speaking on his podcast “The Draymond Green Show” on Monday, Green referenced Mitch Johnson’s press conference and addressed Wembanyama’s elbow.
“After watching (the Spurs’) coach say ‘Well, I’m happy he took matters into his own hands’ and leveled Naz Reid with an elbow, I would say to the Minnesota Timberwolves, ‘Hey guys, this is fair game,'” Green said. “There’s no suspension. There are no fines. This is fair game. Who’s coming out there tomorrow night and doing it to Wemby? Who’s gonna elbow him in the face? That’s what I would be saying.”
Green also brought up the situation with Jaden McDaniels and Nikola Jokic that led to fines for both players:
“Jaden McDaniels and Joker just got fined for much less.”
Matt Barnes reacted in the comments section, writing that Wembanyama was right to throw an elbow.
“Nahh… cause they’ve already been fuckn wemby up & the refs ain’t called shit. So he was right to throw that bow. You and I have thrown elbows for much less lol,” Barnes wrote.
Green replied, writing that Wembanyama should be ready for any retaliation that he may face from Minnesota in this series:
“But if you’re going to start throwing elbows, you have to be ready with everything that comes with that.”
Old Victor Wembanyama interview resurfaces amid increasing physicality in Timberwolves-Spurs series
As Draymond Green noted, Victor Wembanyama’s elbow from Game 4 could lead to increased physicality from the Timberwolves throughout the rest of the Western Conference semifinals.
With Wembanyama’s Game 4 ejection drawing attention, an old interview from the Spurs center has resurfaced in which he expressed being “pissed” with the increasing physical play.
“I mean, where that’s coming from (is) I have (had) enough of players trying to make it a physical game all the time,” Wembanyama told NBC Sports in March. “So, dominating physically is the best answer to that. So, that’s where it’s coming from. And also, man, I’m pissed. I don’t know.”
Wembanyama and the Spurs will return to Frost Bank Center to host the Timberwolves for Game 5 on Tuesday.
Read More: Fans React as Victor Wembanyama’s Flagrant on Naz Reid Costs Spurs Dearly in Game 4 Loss
