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NBA Star Fears Backlash For Speaking Out As Foreigner

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Victor Wembanyama
Photo Credit: "Victor Wembanyama Mets 92 (2)" by Thomas S is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

French NBA star Victor Wembanyama blasted the deadly Minneapolis Border Patrol shooting as “terrible,” despite his concerns over the potential consequences for speaking out as a foreigner living in the United States.

Wembanyama became the lastest of many players to react publicly after Alex J. Pretti was shot and killed during a Department of Homeland Security operation in Minneapolis, a death that has roiled Minnesota and rattled the NBA.

The San Antonio Spurs center described waking up to the news cycle with growing alarm, making clear he was done offering sanitized reactions as the controversy escalated.

“PR has tried, but I’m not going to sit here and give something politically correct,” Wembanyama told reporters, signaling frustration with what he views as an effort to normalize violence.

“Every day I wake up and see the news, and I’m horrified. I think it’s crazy that some people make it seem like or make it sound like it’s acceptable, like the murder of civilians is acceptable,” he continued, framing the shooting as a moral breaking point.

The 22-year-old French star acknowledged the risks of speaking out, noting that holding back was a deliberate choice rather than a lack of conviction.

“I read the news, and sometimes I’m asking very deep questions about my own life. I’m conscious also that saying everything that’s on my mind would have a cost that’s too great for me right now. So, I’d rather not get into too many details,” Wembanyama added.

His hesitation highlighted concerns inside the league, where players have openly discussed fear of backlash while still choosing to weigh in.

“It’s terrible,” Wembanyama said. “I know I’m a foreigner and live in this country. I am concerned for sure.”

Pretti was killed Saturday after allegedly confronting officers during the DHS operation in the southern part of Minneapolis, an encounter that quickly became a flashpoint for protests and political reaction.

The shooting came just weeks after ICE officer-involved gunfire killed Renee Nicole Good, making Pretti’s death the second fatal immigration enforcement shooting to grip Minnesota in a short span.

The fallout reached the court almost immediately, forcing the postponement of a game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors as tensions boiled over.

When play resumed, fans inside the Target Center made their message impossible to miss, holding signs reading “ICE out now” and turning the arena into a protest stage.

Golden State head coach Steve Kerr called Good’s death “murder” earlier this month and doubling down after facing Minnesota amid what he called chaotic days.

“We have a lot of empathy for the people here. We’re really hopeful that the protests here and nationwide will lead to a much better solution for immigration,” Kerr told reporters, tying the unrest directly to federal enforcement tactics.

Kerr then accused agents of targeting the wrong people while sidestepping legislative solutions.

“It’s not like they’re rooting out violent criminals, they’re taking 5-year-old kindergartners and U.S. citizens and detaining people,” he added.

“Immigration is a problem that needs to be addressed, but it needs to be addressed by Congress legislatively, not by military force in the streets, pulling people from their homes.”

The Timberwolves responded by holding moments of silence following both Good’s and Pretti’s deaths.

Several players escalated the rhetoric further, including Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell, who rejected any attempt to downplay the killings.

“I don’t know the whole situation of the people that got murdered, but I do know this is BS,” Mitchell told reporters. “It’s BS. That’s just been my standpoint on it.”

Mitchell extended his comments beyond anger, focusing on families and what he described as a dangerous new normal.

“I pray for the families that are affected by it, I pray for everybody that is affected by it, and I pray we figure this out because it’s getting out of hand,” he said.

“It’s something that we need to just figure out. And hopefully we do soon because it’s just become the norm. It’s nuts. It’s insane. That can’t be who we are as a country, as a people.”

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns also entered the debate, calling for consequences at the institutional level.

“What is happening in the Twin Cities and the Great North Star State is heartbreaking to witness. These events have cost lives and shaken families — and we must call for accountability, transparency, and protections for all people,” Towns wrote on X.

Veteran analyst Charles Barkley echoed that frustration, warning that the situation was spiraling with no clear end.

“It’s just sad,” Barkley said. “It’s scary. It’s sad…. and I don’t know how…. it’s going to end bad. It’s already ended badly twice, and somebody’s gotta step up and be adults because, man, two people have died for no reason, and it’s just sad.”

The National Basketball Players Association released a formal condemnation, framing the shootings as a line players could no longer ignore.

“Following the news of yet another fatal shooting in Minneapolis, a city that has been on the forefront of the fight against injustices, NBA players can no longer remain silent,” the union said.

“Now more than ever, we must defend the right to freedom of speech and stand in solidarity with the people in Minnesota protesting and risking their lives to demand justice,” the statement continued.

The union also highlighted the league’s international makeup while extending condolences.

“The fraternity of NBA players, like the United States itself, is a community enriched by its global citizens, and we refuse to let the flames of division threaten the civil liberties that are meant to protect us all,” it said.

“The NBPA and its members extend our deepest condolences to the families of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, just as our thoughts remain focused on the safety and well-being of all members of our community.”

The outrage spread beyond the NBA as well, with WNBA stars bringing explicit political messages onto the court.

Breanna Stewart held up a sign reading “Abolish ICE” ahead of Sunday’s Unrivaled game, later describing her emotional response to the news.

“Really, all day yesterday, I was just disgusted from everything that you see on Instagram and in the news,” Stewart said, adding that “everyone here [at Unrivaled] is feeling that way, one way or another.”

“We’re so fueled by hate right now instead of love, so I wanted to have a simple message of ‘Abolish ICE,’ which means having policies to uplift families and communities instead of fueling fear and violence,” she added.

Stewart warned that the impact stretched far beyond protests, touching families and children.

“It’s scary. You see it on social media, you see it splitting up families and dissecting communities, and kids are being involved. It’s the worst in all ways,” she said.

WNBA star Brittney Griner drew an even starker comparison while promoting her documentary at the Sundance Film Festival.

“Right now, we’re in a very bad place, especially with everything that’s going on in Minnesota and just across our country,” Griner told The Hollywood Reporter.

“I definitely think people will understand a little bit more now and be able to see some comparisons.”

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