As we all know, Victor Wembanyama was ejected from Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves for elbowing Naz Reid in the throat after he lost his cool early in the second quarter, and rightfully so. It was an unnecessary and potentially dangerous play. We also already know that the league will take no further action, likely concluding that missing 3/4 of the game (and costing his team a potential win) was enough punishment, as well as receiving a little grace for not being a repeat offender.
However, it’s also possible the league saw what led up to this moment and concluded the physical beating he already took was also punishing enough. It doesn’t take much of a deep dive to see the plays that led up to that regrettable split second, as well as why Mitch Johnson went off on the overall level of physicality that was being allowed. Just on that play alone, Wemby had already been hit in the head by Jalen McDaniels on the rebound with no call, and as Reid and McDaniels continued to swipe and and hold him, he finally had enough. (I’m guessing he thought Reid was the one who hit him in the head.)
But that wasn’t the first time in this game he’d been hit in the head. Just moments prior, Terrance Shannon elbowed him in the chin on his way up for a shot, and while no foul was called either way, the announcers had just commended Wemby for keeping his cool at that point, acknowledging the amount of contact the Wolves were getting away with.
Remember in round 1, when De’Aaron Fox was reviewed or a flagrant after be “elbowed” Deni Avdija in he face, which caused him lose a couple of teeth? Ultimately Fox as absolved since he never extended his elbow and it was determined that Avdija moved into him, so it was an unfortunate accident, but that’s not what this was. This was equally as risky to Wemby’s jaw/face has his elbow to Reid could have been if we was a couple of inches higher, and yet this didn’t even get called. So with two uncalled hits to the head in a matter of minutes (let alone after he missed a game with a concussion in the first round), you can see why Wemby lost his cool for second, even if his action was entirely unjustified.
And let’s not forget this wasn’t the first time he got upset at the officials in this series. He had a brief moment of anger in Game 3 after he managed to block an Anthony Edwards shot with one arm while Rudy Gobert was holding the other, just for Edwards to then pull his jersey to keep him from getting back on offense, which led Wemby get on the officials for not calling it.
Fans and players alike have said they want the NBA to allow more physicality and defense, in large part as a response to how much the Oklahoma City Thunder are perceived to get away with on defense while being known for flopping and having a friendly whistle on offense. I agree with that, as well as the notion that the playoffs are a different animal than the regular season, but the league has to find the right balance between the two, so far in this series, they have failed to do that.
Wemby had his first in what surely be more regrettable moments in his career because he is human. It’s behind him now, and he can learn and move on. He now carries added pressure of getting his team through to the next round since a case could easily be made that they would be up 3-1 without this brief but costly lapse in judgement. He also needs to be ready for whatever is thrown his way going forward — likely even more physicality and possibly a cheap shot or two in the next game — but also know how to respond. Don’t retaliate, keep your cool, and let Mitch Johnson work the refs for you.
