Sometime today, the NBA will make an official ruling on whether Victor Wembanyama will be suspended for Game 5 or not for elbowing Naz Reid in the neck in the second quarter of Game 4 last night. But we know the answer to that question. It's not happening. The conversations about the topic are nothing more than that: a conversation topic; a talking point.
The reality is that Wembanyama is far from a dirty player. He doesn't receive technical fouls, and he was unfamiliar with the penalties for a flagrant 2 because nobody on the team ever gets one, especially him. That history will matter. When you combine it with his obvious star power and the "face of the league" wish that the NBA hopes he fulfills, there's zero chance the Alien misses Game 5.
What's more concerning is the dismissal of the referees' part in this. Sure, guys are going to be extra physical because it's the postseason, and that's quite frankly, their only chance to compete with a 7'4" extraterrestrial. But as Mitch Johnson said, at some point, he has to defend himself if the zebras aren't going to do it, and the folks on ESPN's GetUp sports show didn't even acknowledge that.
"Isn't the guy that always reacts to the bully the one that gets caught? That's what happened to Wemby here."
"This was a very immature act by a player. ... Absolutely unacceptable to do this in a playoff game."@RealJayWilliams and @WindhorstESPN give mixed reactions to… pic.twitter.com/iwqvI9j0e5
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) May 11, 2026
Wembanyama isn't dealing with normal playoff intensity
What the panelists above are failing to acknowledge is that refs have a responsibility to control the game, and they failed to do that. They began their segment by listening to coach Mitch Johnson lay out some of the egregious fouling Wembanyama is being subjected to at the hands of the Timberwolves. They then moved past his words, failing to address the crux of his argument.
Playoff intensity is one thing, and the Spurs are all about that. It wasn't but two games ago that San Antonio blew Minnesota's doors off, and Chris Finch admitted his team got punked. The Silver and Black have taken the role of the bully a lot this season, and that didn't stop when they made it to the postseason. However, Wemby is at risk of getting injured with some of the things these guys are doing.
You shouldn't be just two-hand shoving a guy in the back when he's running freely down the court. That's dangerous, and Naz Reid was the one who committed the act in Game 1. The refs just let it happen. He's been pushed in the back when he's in the air on more than a few occasions. There's even a screenshot of one guy grabbing his waist and arm, while another has his arm wrapped around Vic's thigh.
Rudy Gobert or Jaden McDaniels take turns holding Wemby's arms with both hands while he's trying to go in one direction or another. It's like they're trying to ask him to prom. This isn't just a little extra bumping, pushing off, tugging of the jersey, etc. These are dangerous plays that could sideline a superstar if he falls the wrong way or pulls too hard to get away from their vice grip on his limbs.
The league will review everything leading up to the act. Not just the act itself. The circumstances laid out at the beginning of this piece, and the ones just mentioned, make the outcome of this review pretty obvious. Wemby will be back for Game 5, and he'll be pretty upset that his ejection led to a Spurs loss. The Timberwolves are going to feel that anger. But none of it excuses the refs.
Do your job.
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Follow