San Antonio Spurs coach Mitch Johnson fiercely defended Victor Wembanyama after the 7-foot-4 phenom was ejected from Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves for swinging his elbow and hitting Naz Reid in the face. Johnson argued that Wembanyama is subjected to excessive physicality without protection from officials, and the young star eventually had to defend himself.
"It's starting to get disgusting," Johnson said. "Every single play on every single part of the floor, people are trying to impose their physicality on you. He's gotten pushed down in transition. We don't complain. But at some stage, he should be protected. If not, he's going to have to protect himself, and unfortunately, stuff like that happens." The incident occurred after Wembanyama grabbed an offensive rebound and was swarmed by Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels. As McDaniels tugged on his left arm, Wembanyama flailed his right arm back, striking Reid in the neck.
The Spurs rookie was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and automatically ejected. Johnson dismissed any notion of a suspension for Game 5, saying, "There was zero intent. It would be ridiculous." The Timberwolves' win at home tied the second-round series at 2-2.