Victor Wembanyama will face no further punishment from the NBA after savagely elbowing his rival during the San Antonio Spurs’ playoff game on Sunday night.Â
The NBA Defensive Player of the Year was whistled for an offensive foul after striking Naz Reid of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the neck with his elbow.
Reid had swarmed the Frenchman outside the paint after the 7-foot-4 center rebounded a missed 3-pointer by the Spurs, before lashing out and being ejected.
After review of the play, with the fans at Target Center chanting, ‘Kick him out! Kick him out!,’ the foul was upgraded to a Flagrant 2 for excessive contact above the neck.
There had been fears that Wembanyama could have been suspended over the matter, which would have served as a major blow to the Spurs’ playoff hopes.Â
However, on Monday morning it was confirmed that Wembanyama will receive no further punishment over the matter and will be eligible for Game 5 on Tuesday night.Â
The Frenchman has been an imperious force for the Spurs throughout the season and, particularly, during their playoff run.Â
During Game 3 of their series with the Timberwolves, Wembanyama produced 39 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks on the way to their 115-108 win.Â
However, he lasted just 12 minutes of Game 4 before getting himself ejected.Â
Despite the wild outburst from the Frenchman, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson has admitted he’s ‘glad’ star player Wembanyama elbowed a rival in the throat.
‘I’m glad he took matters into his own hands. Not in terms of hitting Naz Reid – by all means, being very clear about that,’ he said.
‘I’m glad Naz Reid is OK, and I didn’t want him to elbow him, but he’s going to have to protect himself.
‘The level of physicality that opponents have been trying to impose on him since his first days in the league, combined with the lack of protection from the referees, is really disappointing.
‘And to a certain extent, it’s starting to become downright nauseating.’
More to follow…Â
