Victor Wembanyama - NBA Playoffs - San Antonio Spurs at Minnesota Timberwolves
Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Timberwolves tied their second round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night, sending the seven-game series back to Texas as a best-of-three.
Of course, many want to put an asterisk on last night’s victory, because young superstar Victor Wembanyama was ejected from the contest early in the 2nd quarter, after he laid a brutal elbow to Reid’s chin during a tie-up.
The detestability of Wemby’s actions is dependent on who you ask. His coach, for example, was proud of him for sticking up for himself. Obviously, those on the MN Timberwolves side did not see things the same way.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith believed Wemby should have been suspended, but had doubts the league would pull the trigger due to how important the 22-year-old is to the NBA brand right now.
Perkins: Victor Wembanyama could have killed MN Timberwolves player
Former NBA player-turned-analyst Kendrick Perkins was not so easy on Adam Silver, however, claiming that if the commissioner’s office didn’t issue further suspension, it would be a stain on his tenure and on the league, in general.
Then, Perkins then doubled down, arguing that Wembanyama — had he hit his Minnesota Timberwolves target a little higher in his head, near the temple area — could have killed Naz Reid with the elbow he introduced to his face in Game 4.
Kendrick Perkins says Victor Wembanyama could’ve seriously hurt Naz Reid if his elbow was a little higher:
“Do you realize if that was a little higher in his temple, we don’t know what could’ve happened. Some people texted me saying if that was higher, he could’ve possible… https://t.co/7UM8AwZmhS pic.twitter.com/WSBBJlmf5C
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) May 11, 2026
“Do you realize if that was a little higher in his temple, we don’t know what could’ve happened. Some people was texting me that ‘hey man, if that was a little higher, he could’ve possibly killed the man with that type of elbow. That’s all it takes.
I want to see Wemby on the floor. We want to see our superstars on the floor. We want to see them on the stage dancing. But we got to call it as it is. A spade is a spade and a heart is a heart.
And the reality of it is there’s no place in the game for that. All eyes are watching. If the NBA decides not to suspend him, then they’re sending a message that they prioritize views, stardom, and money over a person’s well being.”
Kendrick Perkins – First Take (ESPN)
On Monday, the National Basketball Association weighed in, apparently siding with Mitch Johnson, not the guys at ESPN. Not only was Victor Wembanyama not suspended for Game 5, but he wasn’t even fined a dollar.
Could Wembanyama really have killed Naz Reid with elbow?
For those — like the San Antonio Spurs’ head coach, or the NBA itself — who might be doubting Perkins’ medical opinion today on First Take, a deeper look reveals something quite different.
We all know that the human temple is sensitive spot on our bodies, but there is indeed an increased medical chance of brain bleeds and even death if struck in that area, like Minnesota Timberwolves stretch big Naz Reid nearly was in Game 4.
Direct hits to the temple from falls, fistfights, or mishaps during high-impact sports pose a significant risk. Even a seemingly harmless object, if projected with enough force, can cause severe damage. Think of all the different situations where your head is exposed to trauma. Car accidents are a frequent source of these types of injuries. — Deldar Legal
A head injury near the temple is very dangerous. This area has important blood vessels and nerves. Knowing about temple injury complications helps with diagnosis and treatment. A head trauma near the temple can cause serious problems like brain bleeding and long-term brain issues. — ACIBADEM Health Point
Mentioned in this article: Kendrick Perkins Naz Reid NBA Playoffs San Antonio Spurs Victor Wembanyama
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