Victor Wembanyama returned to the spotlight Tuesday night for Game 5 between the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs.
Wembanyama was ejected in the second quarter of Game 4 for throwing an elbow at Timberwolves forward Naz Reid. There's no question his absence played a huge role in San Antonio's 114-109 loss on Sunday night. The former No. 1 pick had 39 points in a Game 3 victory just a few days earlier.
Even though Wembanyama's flagrant foul was pretty brutal, the NBA didn't suspend him for Game 5. With that said, NBC hyped up his return to the hardwood. It was a decision that didn't sit well with Fox Sports personality Nick Wright.
"This game being framed as some return of a wronged hero RE: Wemby, rather than a guy who was very fortunate he wasn’t suspended after wildly flagrant elbow to an opponent’s throat is just wild to me," Wright wrote on the platform formerly known as Twitter.
May 10, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) commits a level two flagrant foul against Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) in the second quarter of game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Wembanyama had to leave the game. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images© Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images.
Some NBA fans agreed with Wright's complaint about Wembanyama.
"It's so weird the narrative for two days was should be suspended, minny is being too physical, fouls not called, not protecting Wemby etc. The narrative should be how stupid and selfish what he did was," one fan replied. "No self control. Cost his team a playoff game. But nope not the anointed one."
"The narratives are crazy. Naz Reid getting dragged down, meanwhile Wemby is the savior like he wasn't dangerously reckless last game," a second fan said. "I didn't expect a suspension or anything but acting like Wemby wasn't exclusively in the wrong and emotionally out of control is crazy."
"NBA officially endorses violence on air in order to avoid Wemby criticism. What happen to shame," another fan commented.
Are the refs to blame for this situation?
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson wasn't exactly thrilled about Wembanyama elbowing Reid, but he believes the officials have allowed Minnesota to get away with too much this series.
"Just the amount of physicality that people play with him, at some level, you have to protect yourself. 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, running freely. We don't complain because we're just going to play. We don't really give a s—. But at some stage, he should be protected. If not, he's going to have to protect himself, and unfortunately, stuff like that happens," Johnson said.
"It's starting to get disgusting in terms of when he tries to fight through things, 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're not. And I think it's disgusting."
Wembanyama certainly sent the Timberwolves a message in Game 5, posting 21 points and 11 rebounds in the first half of action.
This story was originally published by The Spun on May 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
