NBA Rules No Extra Punishment for Victor Wembanyama Elbow

Wembanyama to Play as Spurs-Timberwolves series heads to game 5

Victor Wembanyama won’t be suspended for elbowing Naz Reid in Game 4. The NBA reviewed the Flagrant 2 foul and cleared the Spurs star to play Game 5 with the series tied 2-2.

The league reviewed Wembanyama’s elbow on Naz Reid and decided against additional discipline, letting him suit up for Game 5...

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has avoided a playoff ban after his ejection on Sunday and will be free to play Tuesday’s game, the NBA confirmed.

The 22-year-old Frenchman was sent off for elbowing Naz Reid during San Antonio’s defeat to Minnesota, a result that tied the series at 2-2.

Following its standard review of Flagrant 2 fouls, the league opted against handing out any additional punishment on Monday.

It marked the first ejection of Wembanyama’s career. When officials announced the Flagrant 2 call, he even turned to teammate Harrison Barnes to ask what it meant.

The incident came with Minnesota leading 36-34 and 8:39 remaining in the second quarter. Wembanyama had pulled down an offensive rebound and got tangled up with Jaden McDaniels and Reid.

McDaniels ran into Wembanyama, who turned right with his elbow up and swung it back into Reid’s jaw.

Officials stopped play for the foul and, after reviewing the incident, ruled it a Flagrant 2 for unnecessary and excessive contact, which carries an automatic ejection.

Realising he’d been thrown out, Wembanyama walked off high-fiving every teammate along the bench.

Even without their star, the second-seeded Spurs led by eight early in the fourth quarter before Minnesota fought back to take the win and tie the best-of-seven series at 2-2.

Wembanyama had dropped 39 points in San Antonio’s Game 3 win on Friday, but managed just four points and four rebounds before being ejected.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said he didn’t think Wembanyama threw the elbow intentionally, arguing it was a reaction to the physical pressure from Minnesota’s players.

There will be no further discipline for Spurs star Victor Wembanyama after he was ejected for elbowing Naz Reid in Minnesota on Sunday night, sources tell ESPN. No suspension, no fine. Wembanyama will play in Game 5 against the Timberwolves on Tuesday night in San Antonio. pic.twitter.com/GOGCbIcbQP

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 11, 2026

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ohnson added that the 7-foot-4 center takes heavy contact night after night without getting calls from the officials.

“The amount of physicality that people play with him, at some level you have to protect yourself,” Johnson said. “Every single play on every single part of the floor people are trying to impose their physicality on him.

“I get it, we get it, that's part of the game,” Johnson said. “He doesn't complain one time. We don't complain ... but at some stage he should be protected and if not, he's going to have to protect himself.

“And unfortunate stuff like that happens.”

Status alert: Victor Wembanyama has been ejected Sunday after being assessed a Flagrant 2 foul. pic.twitter.com/G02YylonQE

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) May 11, 2026