Victor Wembanyama, the French NBA star for the San Antonio Spurs, said he was “horrified” by a recent Border Patrol-involved shooting in Minnesota that left Alex J. Pretti dead in Minneapolis on Saturday. The incident and Wembanyama’s reaction were detailed by Fox News.
The shooting prompted swift reaction across the NBA, including the postponement of a game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors. The National Basketball Players Association also issued a statement expressing support for protesters demanding justice in the wake of the incident.
Speaking to reporters, Wembanyama said he was aware that his public relations team preferred he avoid the topic, but he did not want to give what he described as a “politically correct” response. He said the news has been difficult to process and questioned the idea that the killing of civilians could ever be seen as acceptable, just as recent reporting showed how federal enforcement actions sparked protests after agents reportedly went door-to-door.
He said he feels constrained about speaking freely
Wembanyama added that while he feels strongly about the situation, he could not fully express everything on his mind. He said that doing so “would have a cost that’s too great for me right now,” and explained that he would rather not go into further detail due to potential repercussions.
The Spurs center also said the situation feels personal because he is a foreigner living in the United States. He described the circumstances as “terrible” and said he is concerned about his own safety while living in the country. A concern echoed in recent coverage of a Toyota owner crashing out over unexpected Issues.
The shooting occurred during a Department of Homeland Security operation in southern Minneapolis. It followed another deadly incident weeks earlier in which a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed Renee Nicole Good during a separate encounter.
DHS officials said Good was shot in self-defense, alleging she used her SUV in a manner that posed a threat to officers. According to the agency, video evidence showed her interfering with ICE officers by parking her vehicle in the roadway and attempting to block federal vehicles.
President Trump addressed the shootings, saying a recent shakeup within the agencies was not intended to represent a pullback of enforcement efforts. Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the Border Patrol shooting remains under investigation and warned of what she described as a highly coordinated campaign of violence against ICE agents in Minnesota.
In its statement, the NBPA said NBA players could not afford to remain silent, particularly given Minneapolis’ role in past protests against injustice. The union expressed condolences to the families of Alex Pretti and Renee Good and reiterated its support for those protesting the shootings.
Published: Jan 27, 2026 07:15 pm