Matt Barnes defends Victor Wembanyama against dirty player accusations

Matt Barnes has publicly defended Victor Wembanyama amid accusations of him being a dirty player. Wembanyama, who led the San Antonio Spurs to the NBA Finals in his third season, faced physical matchups during the playoffs that included notable incidents, such as an elbow against Naz Reid and a shove on Jalen Brunson. Barnes acknowledged that while some criticism might be warranted, Wembanyama's reactions came after experiencing repeated cheap shots from opponents. He emphasized that Wembanyama is not always the instigator, and that his frustrations are understandable based on the physical play he encountered. Looking ahead, Wembanyama is expected to focus on improving his game and handling physicality more effectively.

• 2:48 AMYahoo Sports — Former NBA champion defends Victor Wembanyama from being called a dirty player