Peter Okereke
On Sunday evening, the San Antonio Spurs dropped Game 4 of their second round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, leaving things tied at 2-2 heading back home for a Game 5 showdown.
However, the big story of this game was Victor Wembanyama, who was ejected in the second quarter after a vicious elbow to the neck of Minnesota’s Naz Reid that resulted in a flagrant two foul.
Now, ESPN sports personality Stephen A. Smith has weighed in on the incident on his social media page amid the ongoing debate as to whether or not Wembanyama should be suspended for Tuesday’s pivotal Game 5.
“Damn! @wemby ’s ejection — unfortunately — was very warranted. Can’t swing your elbow like that. Very intentional. No debate,” Smith wrote Sunday on X (formerly Twitter).
But Stephen A. Smith also added that while he doesn’t support Wemby’s conduct on the floor in Game 4, he doesn’t want the center-forward being handed a suspension as a result.
“But I’m praying he doesn’t SUSPENDED for Game [5], which is very possible. We shouldn’t want decisions like that deciding a series. But we shall see.”
The nasty elbow from Victor Wembanyama to Reid was quite shocking, especially considering the Spurs star’s usual mild-mannered demeanor on the court.
There is also a precedent for suspensions with previous incidents similar to this one in NBA history, with many fans pointing out Ron Artest’s elbow to the head of James Harden well over a decade ago. That resulted in the then-Los Angeles Lakers forward being suspended for seven games.
But the NBA would want nothing more than to have Victor Wembanyama, who they have billed as their future, and possibly present face of the league, on the court for a crucial Game 5 of this playoff series. However, it remains to be seen if their desire to maintain sporting integrity as an organization will overrule that in the end.
Nonetheless, an official decision from the league on a potential Wembanyama suspension is expected later in the day on Monday.
