Brian Windhorst delivers harsh assessment of Victor Wembanyama’s playoff ejection and mindset originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Spurs missed a major opportunity Sunday night. A road win at the Target Center would have given them a 3-1 series lead, but they lost by five points, leaving Minneapolis tied 2-2. If Victor Wembanyama stayed on the floor, the outcome might have favored San Antonio.
Instead, he was ejected with 8:39 left in the second quarter. It is the first ejection of his career. ESPN Research noted this was the earliest an All-Star has been tossed from a playoff game since play-by-play tracking began in 1997. NBA insider Brian Windhorst called the mistake that led to his ejection unacceptable.
Victor Wembanyama's ejection swings series back to even
Wembanyama grabbed an offensive rebound but was immediately crowded by Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels. While trying to clear space, he swung his elbow and hit Reid in the jaw. Following a review, officials ruled it a Flagrant 2 for excessive contact to the head, resulting in an automatic ejection.
Wembanyama appeared confused by the call initially, asking Harrison Barnes for clarification before leaving the game with only four points and four rebounds.
Without him, the Spurs still managed an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter, but they couldn't hold it until the buzzer. Minnesota outscored them 28-15 over the final nine minutes, with Anthony Edwards leading the comeback to tie the series at 2-2.
Windhorst had no sympathy for Wembanyama's situation. The veteran reporter said Monday on SportsCenter the call was clean and the behavior inexcusable.
"This was a Grade A example of a flagrant foul; it had all the markers: unnecessary, excessive, wind up and hit above the shoulders," Windhorst said. "This was absolutely completely unacceptable, and it significantly hurt his team to get ejected in the second quarter."
Windhorst also called out Wembanyama's "What does that mean?" reaction, suggesting it wasn't genuine. He added, "He will avoid a suspension now; he better not do this again because he would get suspended for this kind of hit. Absolutely unacceptable to do this in a playoff game."
However, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson defended his star, criticizing the lack of officiating. "The level of physicality that opponents have been trying to impose on him since his first days in the league, combined with the lack of protection from the referees, is really disappointing. And to a certain extent, it's starting to become downright nauseating." Johnson said, per SpectrumLocalNews.
The 22-year-old is safe from a suspension for now. He has two flagrant points but it takes four to be sidelined for a game. He’ll be back on the court for Game 5 in San Antonio on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.
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