Victor Wembanyama could find himself in deep trouble with a possible suspension in the NBA playoffs after a Flagrant 2 ejection in the Spurs’ Game 4 loss against the Timberwolves on Sunday. Early in the second quarter, Wembanyama elbowed Naz Reid in the jaw. The referees reviewed it and deemed it excessive and unnecessary, leading to the Spurs center’s ejection.
The foul had shades of Metta Sandiford-Artest infamously elbowing James Harden in 2012. The then-Lakers forward got suspended for seven games, including six in the playoffs. Wembanyama got punished for his actions on Sunday, but the league will likely review the incident further to determine whether it warrants a suspension.
It could be a huge loss for the Spurs as it could decide the series. Victor Wembanyama’s absence for almost three quarters already has cost San Antonio a potential win in Game 4. Amid the controversy surrounding it, Thunder reporters and fans have been pushing heavily for Wembanyama’s suspension.
Thunder beat writer Brandon Rahbar revisited the punishment the league handed to Metta Sandiford-Artest for his foul against James Harden.
Metta World Peace was suspended 7 games for the elbow to James Harden’s head in 2012,” he wrote. “He missed the final game of the regular season and 6 playoff games.”
If the Spurs advance and Wembanyama is suspended against OKC, it could pretty much seal the Thunder’s trip to the NBA Finals for a second consecutive year.
However, it seems unlikely that the league would give such a harsh punishment that extends beyond this series. A one-game suspension could still be on the cards due to the intentional contact, but given Wembanyama’s clean history, the league might be lenient.
Over the years, for players like Draymond Green, Dillon Brooks and others involved in several wind-ups, the NBA cites their previous misconduct as the reason for harsher punishments.
Mitch Johnson says Victor Wembanyama’s Flagrant ejection foul wasn’t intentional amid suspension talk
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson passionately defended Victor Wembanyama amid suspension talks following his Flagrant 2 foul on Naz Reid. Johnson claimed Wembanyma’s foul wasn’t intentional and he was trying to protect himself. Johnson also made it clear that the officiating hasn’t favored Wembanyama despite the aggressive defense he faces against all teams.
“In general, I do think it’s getting to a point that it’s… if the people that are in charge of controlling the game and protecting the physicality in the game don’t do that, then at some point he’s going to have to protect himself,” Johnson said. “We’ve been asking for him to do that for a while.”
Mitch Johnson said he was glad Victor Wembanyama took matters into his own hands, but condemned the elbow to Reid’s face, saying that’s not what he meant by it. The NBA will likely consider the officiating against Wembanyama when evaluating whether a suspension is required, as the physicality he’s faced has frustrated him throughout all four games.
