ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith stirred controversy on his show by suggesting that the Minnesota Timberwolves might actually want Victor Wembanyama to suit up for Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals—simply because the 7-foot-5 center is “too skinny.”
The series between the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota is tied 2-2. In Game 4, Wembanyama was ejected for elbowing Timberwolves center Naz Reid, leading to a Spurs loss. The league later decided not to suspend Wembanyama, clearing him for the pivotal Game 5. Smith weighed in on *First Take*, saying, “How do you know they don’t want Wemby to play tonight? They might want him out there! Especially because it’s not a ‘Diesel’ [Shaquille O’Neal].”
Smith compared Wembanyama to Shaquille O’Neal: “When you have a 330- or 340-pound center like Shaq dunking on you, it’s a different story. But because he’s so skinny, some guys might actually want him to play. He’s a great player, but they might want to see him out there just to test him physically.” This claim was quickly refuted by former NBA player Kendrick Perkins. “I’d bet everything I’ve got—if you poll the Timberwolves locker room about whether they want Wembanyama on the floor, I guarantee they’ll say no,” Perkins countered.
Wembanyama is widely regarded as one of the league’s most dominant players this season. Despite his lean frame, his unique two-way abilities have earned him the nickname “The Alien.” As Game 5 approaches, all eyes are on whether Wembanyama will take the court and how the Timberwolves will respond.
