<\/p>\n
FS1\u2019s Nick Wright did not hold back when discussing the way NBC framed Victor Wembanyama\u2019s return in Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.<\/p>\n
After Wembanyama avoided suspension for his flagrant-two foul on Naz Reid in Game 4, the San Antonio Spurs star returned for a pivotal playoff matchup with the series tied.<\/p>\n
Wembanyama was ejected during the second quarter of Game 4 after viciously elbowing Reid in the face during San Antonio\u2019s loss. The NBA later chose not to suspend him, allowing him to play in Game Five as the Spurs grabbed a 3-2 series lead.<\/p>\n
The broadcast coverage surrounding Wembanyama could have crossed a line while painting the young superstar as the victim rather than the player responsible for the incident, according to Wright.<\/p>\n
Wright criticized both NBC and the broader NBA media for what he described as an overly protective approach toward Wembanyama.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was never more apparent than last night in the broadcast where they framed a game that Wemby was fortunate to be playing because he had avoided what would have been a totally reasonable if not a little punitive suspension, as if he was the one who get elbowed in the neck,\u201d Wright said on The Right Time <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe entire conceit of the broadcast was Wemby\u2019s hero return, as if he had been the one who was wronged.\u201d<\/p>\n Wright also argued the officiating reflected that same energy early in the game after Naz Reid was assessed a technical foul.<\/p>\n \u201cI felt like I was a crazy person,\u201d Wright added. \u201cI was like, \u2018Everything about this is as if Naz had elbowed Wemby, and Wemby valiantly fought through it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n He added,\u00a0\u201cThe just, snap, double standard for certain guys bothers me. If Luka got thrown out of a playoff game for yelling at a ref, people wouldn\u2019t frame the next game as his valiant return to work. So I just didn\u2019t like it.\u201d<\/p>\n Wright clarified that his frustration was directed more toward the media than Wembanyama himself.<\/p>\n