NBA star Victor Wembanyama had a reason to breathe a huge sigh of relief on March 4, 2026, as he confirmed that his missing friend Elijah Hoard has been found safe, ending days of anxiety and uncertainty for the San Antonio Spurs star and Hoard’s loved ones.
Wembanyama, who had been using his significant social media presence to help locate Hoard after the 23‑year‑old vanished in Chicago, delivered the good news during a post‑game press conference following the Spurs’ commanding 131‑91 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. “They found him,” Wembanyama said, visibly relieved, marking a stark contrast to the worry that had gripped him and the wider basketball community.
Hoard had been missing since February 27, after being dropped off at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport by his father, with no indication that he ever boarded his scheduled flight back to France. In a heartfelt bid for help, Wembanyama repeatedly shared missing‑person details online, tagging notable Chicago sports figures to broaden the search’s reach.
Hoard’s safe return brings closure to a distressing chapter that drew attention not just from fans of the Spurs, but from sports communities around the world, highlighting the impact an athlete can have off the court as well as on it.
Unbelievable Scenes As Trae Young Gets Ejected Without Playing A Single Minute During Wizards vs Rockets NBA Match; Video
Washington Wizards guard Trae Young made an unprecedented and headline-grabbing exit on Monday night when he was ejected from a game before ever playing a minute in a Wizards uniform. The incident occurred during Washington’s 123-118 loss to the Houston Rockets, when a bench incident in the fourth quarter prompted Young, who was not in uniform due to injury, to step onto the court and voice his frustrations to an official. That alone was enough to earn him an immediate ejection, even though he has yet to make his official Wizards debut.
Young has been sidelined since late December with right leg injuries but had announced earlier Monday that he planned to make his long-awaited Wizards debut on Thursday against the Utah Jazz. Instead, his first act as a Wizard in a game setting was being sent to the locker room before tip-off. Not one to let the moment pass without humor, Young later joked on social media that fans shouldn’t expect him to be ejected “too many more times,” while affirming he’ll bring energy and competitiveness when he finally suits up.
The odd ejection also saw Rockets forward Tari Eason tossed from the game after a scuffle with Wizards rookie Jamir Watkins, making it a night of emotional swings on the court. With the Wizards in a rebuilding phase and Young eager to finally take the floor for his new team, the episode adds an unusual prelude to what fans hope will be a strong debut later this week.
