On Monday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Victor Wembanyama would not be fined or suspended for the hard foul that led to his ejection in Game 4. A day prior, Wembanyama had been thrown out in the second quarter of the Spurs-Wolves clash after elbowing Naz Reid above the shoulders.
The league office decided that Wembanyama’s ejection was a sufficient punishment for his actions. Draymond Green, however, didn’t see it that way. On his self-titled podcast, the Golden State Warriors star implied that the Timberwolves should reciprocate Wembanyama’s physicality the next time they face each otehr on the court.
“I will say to the Minnesota Timberwolves, ‘Hey guys, this is fair game. There’s no fines. There’s no suspensions. This is fair game.'”
Green also claimed that the league office would have responded differently if it had been the other way around with Victor Wembanyama and Naz Reid.
“What if the shoe was on the other foot and it was Naz Reid taking out Wemby? There would be fines. There would be suspensions…For there not to be a fine is crazy.”
With the Wolves-Spurs series tied at 2-2, the stakes are incredibly high when Game 5 tips off at Frost Bank Center. From the looks of it, there will be plenty of physicality to expect from both sides Tuesday night.
“You Prioritized Superstardom Over Health”: Kendrick Perkins Slams NBA’s Decision to Spare Victor Wembanyama From Further Sanctions
Aside from Green, ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins also voiced out his displeasure with the lack of further sanctions on Victor Wembanyama.
“Did the NBA get it right? In my opinion, no, because you prioritized superstardom and views over someone’s health,” Perkins said on “Sportscenter” after the news came out.
Big Perk added that he expects Game 5 to be a “brawl for it all,” with the Timberwolves coming out “angry” in the fallout of the Wembanyama situation.
