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Victor Wembanyama’s first suspension will not be suspended any longer, as the NBA decided not to suspend the San Antonio Spurs big man for the elbow he threw at Minnesota Timberwolves’ Naz Reid in Game 4 of their Western Conference Semifinals series.
Wembanyama will be available for Game 5 of the series, scheduled for Tuesday night, per ESPN.
Wembanyama had a bad run after elbowing Reid in the face when they met twice in the corner after receiving a rebound. But video review saw an elbow hit Reid square in the jaw and neck, sending him to the hardwood.
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Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on May 10, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (David Berding/Getty Images)
Officials announced that Wembanyama’s foul was upgraded to Flagrant 2 for excessive contact above the neck. As a result, it is an automatic deduction.
The ejection came with just 8:39 left in the second quarter, marking the first time an NBA All-Star has been ejected in a Finals game since 1997-98, according to ESPN research.
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Wembanyama, a candidate for MVP, will not be able to speak on the court again for the Spurs, who ended up losing to the Timberwolves, 114-109, to extend the series to two games in a row before Game 5.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson used the post-game press conference to defend the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama, especially the level of physicality Wembanyama receives from players during games.
Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid reacts after getting injured in the second half of Game 4 of the NBA’s second round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs in Minneapolis on May 10, 2026. (Abbie Parr/AP)
“It’s just the amount of physicality that people play with, at a certain level, you have to protect yourself,” he said, via ESPN. “Every single play in every part of the floor, people try to force their body on you. He’s thrown down in transition, running free. We’re not complaining because we’re just going to play. We don’t really give a –. But at some point, he’s got to be protected. Otherwise, he’s going to have to defend himself, and things like this happen.
“It’s starting to get disgusting when he tries to fight things, be professional and mature and deal with some of that stuff. I’m glad he’s holding his own. Not about hitting Naz Reid, but he’s going to have to defend himself otherwise. And I think it’s disgusting.”
Johnson added that there was “no intent” in Black’s elbow to Reid’s face, believing a Game 5 suspension “would be ridiculous.” But it was the league’s decision in the end.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama walks off the court after committing a foul that led to his ejection in the first half of Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis on May 10, 2026. (Abbie Parr/AP)
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In the end, they determined that Johnson’s condition was fine, and Wembanyama will be on the field with his teammates in the all-important Game 5 as the series returns to San Antonio on Tuesday night.
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