Spurs Coach Glad Wembanyama Protected Himself in Ejection vs. Timberwolves

San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson defended Victor Wembanyama's ejection from the team's Game 4 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night.

Wembanyama was tossed after swinging his elbow and hitting Timberwolves center Naz Reid in the face during the second quarter. It marked the first ejection of his career.

Johnson said he was "glad" that Wembanyama "took matters into his own hands," but expressed concern about the physicality Wembanyama faces in games.

"Just the amount of physicality that people play with him, at some level, you have to protect yourself," Johnson said, via ESPN. "Every single play on every single part of the floor, people are trying to impose their physicality on you. He's gotten pushed down in transition, running freely. We don't complain because we're just going to play. We don't really give a s---. But at some stage, he should be protected. If not, he's going to have to protect himself, and unfortunately, stuff like that happens."

"It's starting to get disgusting in terms of when he tries to fight through things, be professional and mature and deal with some of that stuff," Johnson added. "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 they're not. And I think it's disgusting."

The incident happened after Wembanyama grabbed an offensive rebound and was swarmed by Reid and Jaden McDaniels. Both Timberwolves players tried to jar the ball loose. McDaniels tugged on Wembanyama's left arm. The 7-foot-4 player then flailed his right arm back and struck Reid in the neck.

Officials assessed Wembanyama a Flagrant 2 foul, which triggered an automatic ejection.

Johnson dismissed suggestions that Wembanyama would face suspension for Game 5. "There was zero intent," he said. "I think it would be ridiculous."

Minnesota's victory tied the series at 2-2.