Spurs coach Mitch Johnson sounds off on Wolves' physicality with Wemby

San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson had to field questions about his superstar center after his first career ejection in Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves on May 10.

Victor Wembanyama was ejected in the second quarter after pulling in a rebound and delivering an intentional elbow to the throat of Naz Reid after being swarmed by him and Jaden McDaniels.

Johnson, after the game didn't condone the act, but was in defense of the Spurs' MVP candidate and 2026 Defensive Player of the Year.

“In general, I do think it’s getting to a point that 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 he’s going to have to protect himself,” Johnson told reporters after the game. “We’ve been asking him to do that for a while. Naz Reid was okay and that call was warranted, but in terms of the game plan of every single team we face since that young man has been in the league and the physicality that people try to impose on him and the lack of protection is really disappointing."

Minnesota and San Antonio had been a physical series leading up to the Wemby's bow. On the particular play, as Wembanyama came down with the rebound, he was smacked in the head by McDaniels, who then held Wembanyama's arm afterward.

As he swung away from McDaniels, his elbow made contact with Reid, catching him in the throat.