TomasM
Permanent Fixture
- MBTI
- INFJ
Victor Wembanyama Should be Suspended
San Antonio at Minnesota
05/11/2026
I know this thread is about the Thunder but as I was watching a game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs this weekend I saw Victor Wembanyama -a literal giant among professional basketball players- look another player directly in the eyes, consciously swing his elbow, and knock the opposing player to the ground -and nearly unconscious. It was a vicious and deliberate play and in my opinion should be met with a fierce response by the NBA.
There is always going to be aggression in basketball and asserting aggression and physicality -especially during the playoffs- is just part of the expectation by everyone involved. Fans often go to games so they can get out some of their aggression vicariously through players while participating in a level of tribalism and this is better than people doing it actively between citizens, so it's good to a point.
After the altercation Victor was ejected from the game and though that is the expected outcome for such a violent act, a punishment has to be delivered by the NBA or players will seek revenge with the full expectation that only an ejection (a slap on the wrist) will be the outcome. When Victor realized he had been ejected, he nodded his head OK -like it was no big deal,- and then started high fiving all of his teammates / supporters and went to the locker room. He had no remorse or care about the player that he violently attacked.
The player that was struck, Naz Reid, is a high performer -awarded regularly by the league for exceptional performance- and appeared to be somewhat of a bystander to the incident. He had been engaged in harassing defense but there didn't appear to be any level of overly aggressive physical engagement -with respect to normal playoff basketball defense.
When referees don't engage enough to curb these types of behavior is usually when we see players have these explosive outbursts; however, there didn't appear to be any escalation prior to this act of violence. The same can be said for the league if they don't punish this act with a suspension. IT'S NOT OK, and Victor needs to feel it through his pocketbook and public backlash.
San Antonio at Minnesota
05/11/2026
I know this thread is about the Thunder but as I was watching a game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs this weekend I saw Victor Wembanyama -a literal giant among professional basketball players- look another player directly in the eyes, consciously swing his elbow, and knock the opposing player to the ground -and nearly unconscious. It was a vicious and deliberate play and in my opinion should be met with a fierce response by the NBA.
There is always going to be aggression in basketball and asserting aggression and physicality -especially during the playoffs- is just part of the expectation by everyone involved. Fans often go to games so they can get out some of their aggression vicariously through players while participating in a level of tribalism and this is better than people doing it actively between citizens, so it's good to a point.
After the altercation Victor was ejected from the game and though that is the expected outcome for such a violent act, a punishment has to be delivered by the NBA or players will seek revenge with the full expectation that only an ejection (a slap on the wrist) will be the outcome. When Victor realized he had been ejected, he nodded his head OK -like it was no big deal,- and then started high fiving all of his teammates / supporters and went to the locker room. He had no remorse or care about the player that he violently attacked.
The player that was struck, Naz Reid, is a high performer -awarded regularly by the league for exceptional performance- and appeared to be somewhat of a bystander to the incident. He had been engaged in harassing defense but there didn't appear to be any level of overly aggressive physical engagement -with respect to normal playoff basketball defense.
When referees don't engage enough to curb these types of behavior is usually when we see players have these explosive outbursts; however, there didn't appear to be any escalation prior to this act of violence. The same can be said for the league if they don't punish this act with a suspension. IT'S NOT OK, and Victor needs to feel it through his pocketbook and public backlash.
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