Victor Wembanyama faces a possible Game 5 suspension after his ejection in the San Antonio Spurs' Game 4 loss. With the Minnesota Timberwolves capitalizing on the opportunity to even the series, Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson was not apologetic about his star player’s actions.

Johnson spoke to the media after the loss that tied the series at 2-2. When reporters asked him about Wemby’s ejection, the Spurs head coach didn’t shy away from taking his star player’s side. Johnson highlighted the physicality that Wembanyama had to face in this series.

“I’m glad he took matters into his own hands — not at all in terms of hitting Naz Reid, I want to be very clear about that. I’m glad Naz Reid was okay. I didn’t want him to elbow him. But he’s going to have to protect himself if they’re not,” Johnson told reporters after the game. 

After Wembanyama caught a rebound over Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels, the latter caught his left hand. The Frenchman swung his elbow into Reid’s chin while he grabbed the ball. In the next second, Reid crashed to the court. 

Mitch Johnson defended the Spurs superstar, noting that Wemby did all he could to get past the questionable defending.

“At some level, it’s starting to get actually disgusting, just in terms of when he tries to fight through things and be professional and mature and deal with some of that stuff,” the HC added.

Johnson emphasized Wembanyama's professionalism despite the heightened physicality from Timberwolves defenders towards him. 

“But at some stage, he’s gotten chucked, he’s gotten pushed down in transition, running freely, all this stuff. He doesn’t complain one time,” Johnson added.

Wembanyama had 4 points and 4 rebounds in 12 minutes before the ejection. As the Spurs head to San Antonio, there are bigger questions about Wemby’s availability. 

Mitch Johnson responds to Victor Wembanyama’s possible suspension

Wemby's ejection leaves San Antonio vulnerable as the series shifts back home. The league will review the Flagrant 2 and give its verdict on Monday. He could be suspended for Game 5 for an unsportsmanlike act. 

However, Johnson flatly rejected the idea and said that it “would be ridiculous” if Wemby was suspended.

“No,” he said when asked about the possibility of Wemby’s suspension.

“Again, I don’t even know the legality or the rules, but there was zero intent. They did what they did because of the outcome of the play. So be it. But to have anything on top of that, I think, would be ridiculous.”

While there is a legitimate chance of the NBA punishing Wemby for the next game, the possibility is very thin. The league also looks at the history of repeated unsportsmanlike acts by the player before making that decision, and in that regard, Wembanyama is safe.

Moreover, suspending a superstar caliber player in a playoff series, that too in a home game, might not be a simple decision.

Do you think Wembanyama should be suspended from Game 5? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Read more at the Air Jordan Chronicles!

Written by

Nandjee Ranjan

Edited by

Surjo Ray