Victor Wembanyama could be facing NBA discipline for a blatant, dangerous elbow that nailed Naz Reid in the neck in Game 4 of the San Antonio Spurs playoff game against the Minnesota Timerwolves.
There’s no doubt he should be suspended a game for his actions. That wasn’t just a run-of-the-mill elbow in the middle of a basketball move that just happened to catch his opponent.
You can see it in the replays: Wemanyama rears back and lets Reid have it. The move appears retaliatory as Reid and the Spurs center get tangled up trying to get a rebound. Wemby gets hit by Jaden McDaniels in the face, and it was perhaps his frustration that led to the elbow to the wrong player. Doesn’t matter who got it — the elbow was dangerous.
With all of that in mind, it’s simple: A one-game suspension so that this doesn’t happen again and the young superstar learns a lesson that you can’t retaliate like that and so violently.
What if he had connected with Reid in the face? Even a shot to the neck can be dangerous. It deserved a Flagrant 2 and it’ll deserve a Game 5 suspension too.
Does a Flagrant 2 foul in the NBA lead to an automatic suspension?
No. It’s an automatic ejection and a minimum fine of $2,000.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Victor Wembanyama suspension coming after elbow, flagrant foul?
