The NBA has officially crossed the line from protecting an asset to enabling a superstar. In its desperate bid to market San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama as the pristine future of the sport, the league office has routinely ignored egregious, unethical behavior that would earn any other player a hefty fine or suspension. If Adam Silver wants to retain a single shred of competitive and ethical integrity, the league must stop coddling its golden child and start levying real financial consequences.

The special treatment afforded to Wembanyama over the course of the 2026 postseason has transformed from standard star-whistling into a full-scale double standard. The league must fine him, and they must do it now.

                  THE WEMBY EXEMPTION: THREE UNPUNISHED INCIDENTS
┌──────────────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┐
│ INCIDENT                             │ LEAGUE RESPONSE                      │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Throat/Neck Elbow to Naz Reid        │ Ejection only; no suspension or fine │
│ Directing Team "Hit" on Jared McCain │ Entirely ignored by league office    │
│ Skipping WCF Game 5 Press Conference │ Issued a simple "warning"            │
└──────────────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────────┘

The Unpunished Postseason Violence

The coddling reached a boiling point during Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals. Wembanyama swung a vicious elbow directly into the throat and neck of Minnesota Timberwolves forward Naz Reid. The contact was deemed unnecessary, excessive, and violent enough to trigger an automatic Flagrant 2 ejection.

Yet, when the time came for the league office to issue a mandatory follow-up suspension or financial penalty, the NBA stayed completely silent. Allowing a 7-foot-4 player to weaponize his limbs against opponents’ heads without a secondary penalty sends a dangerous message about player safety.

Orchestrating Enforcer Hits

Even worse than Wembanyama’s personal outbursts is his apparent willingness to orchestrate off-ball violence. During the Western Conference Finals, viral footage caught the superstar whispering instructions to veteran teammates Mason Plumlee and Bismack Biyombo right before checking out of the game.

Minutes later, both players executed punishing, bone-crushing hits on OKC Thunder guard Jared McCain. Biyombo sent McCain tumbling into the hardwood, yet the league completely ignored Wembanyama’s role as the coordinator of the hit.

Cowardice in the Media Room

Wembanyama’s pattern of getting away with whatever he wants extends far beyond physical violence. Following a dreadful performance in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the big man completely skipped his mandatory post-game press conference.

• The Rule: Every NBA player is contractually obligated to speak to reporters after playoff games.
• The Penalty: Traditional stars routinely face $25,000 to $50,000 fines for dodging media responsibilities.
• The Reality: The NBA gave Wembanyama a toothless public “warning,” letting him hide from accountability purely because of his global popularity.

Conclusion

By refusing to hand down fines or suspensions, the NBA has created a tier of justice exclusively for one player. Fining Wembanyama isn’t about hurting the Spurs; it is about proving that the rulebook applies equally to everyone, no matter how tall they are.