Victor Wembanyama Should've Been Suspended - Here's Why I'm Glad He Wasn't
Victor Wembanyama was ejected from Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinal series against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday when he threw an errant elbow at the throat of opponent Naz Reid.
For all the praise and fanfare around the 7-foot-4 Frenchman, having just won the first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year award in NBA history, it was a rare, immature moment that made basketball fans realize he’s still a 22-year-old kid.
The Timberwolves knew their assignment was to make the game physical on Wembanyama and wear him down, and the San Antonio Spurs ace grew frustrated and lashed out after multiple hard fouls.
On Monday, the NBA announced that Wembanyama wouldn’t face a suspension for Game 5 of the tied series, essentially paving the way for a three-game series between the two teams to see who will make it to the West finals.
Was the Wembanyama elbow worth a one-game suspension?
Honestly?
Yeah, probably. We’ve seen less egrigous Flagrant 2 fouls lead to a one-game suspension or worse.
Am I happy that Wembanyama is playing Game 5?
Absolutely.
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In what has been one of the worst second rounds we’ve ever witnessed in the NBA playoffs, the lone entertainment has been the battle between the Timberwolves and the Spurs.
It’s the only series that feels like they’re in the playoffs. Both teams are playing heavy, pushing each other to the limit, and it’s a showcase of the league’s two brightest young players: Wembanyama and Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards.
If Wembanyama sat out Game 5 and the Timberwolves won, it’d feel diluted.
With the Oklahoma City Thunder most likely stomping their way to the conference finals without dropping a single game, you want to see Edwards or Wembanyama rise to the occasion to lead their team into the boss pit against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the defending champions.
In a playoffs thus far that have been void of hard-hitting storylines or truly memorable series, Minnesota and San Antonio might deliver us something special.
And if that means Wembanyama can get away with a little (or extremely large) elbow to the neck, then I’ll accept it.
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This story was originally published May 11, 2026 at 3:59 PM.