Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
If Victor Wembanyama didn’t stand up for himself in the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the referees certainly weren’t going to do it for him.
At least, that’s the way that San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson saw it after Wembanyama was ejected from a Game 4 loss to the T-Wolves on Sunday for an elbow to the head of Naz Reid in the second quarter.
Wembanyama was battling with Reid and Minnesota forward Jaden McDaniels for a rebound when he swung his elbow, catching the Timberwolves’ center flush in the face and sending him crumpling to the ground.
He was assessed a flagrant 2 on the play, which carries with it an immediate ejection for the game. But Johnson wasn’t upset with his superstar.
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
Mitch Johnson Praised Victor Wembanyama After Ejection
Rather than chiding Wembanyama for leaving his team shorthanded for much of the pivotal playoff game, Johnson opted to take a different point of view.
“In general, I do think it’s getting to the point that if the people that are in charge of controlling the game, and protecting the physicality of the game, don’t do that, then at some point [Wembanyama] is going to have to protect himself. We’ve been asking him to do that for a while, Johnson said in his postgame press conference.
“So, that call with Naz Reid was OK, and it sounded like the call was warranted,” Johnson added, “But in terms of the game plan of every single team we’ve faced since [Wembanyama] has been in the league and the physicality that people try to impose on him, and the lack of protection, is really disappointing. At some level, it’s starting to get actually disgusting.
“…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 [the officials are not going to]. And I think it’s disgusting.”
Wembanyama is known around the league for his mild-mannered personality. So the flagrant foul was surprising on multiple levels. But it sounds as if Johnson and his coaching staff are happy to see the French superstar finally show a bit more aggression on the court.