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San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson addressed Victor Wembanyama’s ejection from the team’s Game 4 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night.
Wembanyama was ejected after moving his elbow and hitting Timberwolves center Naz Reid in the face in the second quarter. It was the first expulsion of his career.
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San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama reacts after being ejected for a flagrant foul during the first half of Game 4 of the second round of the NBA playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis on May 10, 2026. (Abbie Parr/AP)
Johnson said he was “glad” Wembanyama “took matters into his own hands” but added that he was concerned about the level of physicality Wembanyama gets during games.
“Just because of the amount of physicality that people play with him, on some level, you have to protect yourself,” he continued via ESPN. “Every play, every part of the court, people try to impose their physicality on you. They push him down in transition, running freely. We’re not complaining because we’re just going to play. We don’t really give a shit. But at some point, he’s got to be protected. If not, he’s going to have to protect himself, and unfortunately, things like that happen.
“It’s starting to get sickening in terms of him trying to fight things and be professional and mature and deal with some of that stuff. I’m glad he took matters into his own hands. Not in terms of hitting Naz Reid, but he’s going to have to protect himself if they don’t. And I think it’s sickening.”
Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid reacts after an injury during the second half of Game 4 of the NBA second-round playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs in Minneapolis on May 10, 2026. (Abbie Parr/AP)
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The incident occurred when Wembanyama was attacked by Reid and Jaden McDaniels after he grabbed an offensive rebound. Both T’Wolves players tried to fumble the ball.
McDaniels pulled on Wembanyama’s left arm. The 7ft 4in phenom then swung his right arm back and punched Reid in the neck.
Wembanyama was charged with a flagrant foul 2, resulting in an automatic ejection.
Johnson dismissed any thoughts of Wembanyama being suspended for Game 5.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama walks down the court after committing a flagrant foul that led to his ejection during the first half of Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis on May 10, 2026. (Abbie Parr/AP)
“There was no intention,” he said. “I think that would be ridiculous.”
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Minnesota’s victory tied the series 2-2.
