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San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama said Tuesday he was “horrified” by the news in recent days following the Border Patrol-involved shooting of a Minnesota man.
Wembanyama was the latest NBA player to speak out about the incident that left Alex J. Pretti dead in Minneapolis on Saturday.
The incident drew widespread condemnation and led to the postponement of a game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors.
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San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama brings the ball up the court against the Utah Jazz during the first half Jan. 22, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)
“PR tried, but I’m not going to sit here and give something politically correct,” he told reporters. “Every day I wake up and I see the news, and I’m horrified. I think it’s crazy that some people make it seem like this is okay, that killing civilians is okay.
“I read the news and sometimes I ask myself very deep questions about my own life. I’m also aware that saying everything I think would come at too high a cost for me right now. So I prefer not to go into too much detail.”
The 22-year-old Frenchman admitted there was some fear about speaking out because of the repercussions he could face. He did not specify what repercussions.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) dribbles against New Orleans Pelicans center Derik Queen (22) in the first half at Frost Bank Center on January 25, 2026. (Daniel Dunn/Imagn Images)
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“It’s terrible,” he added. “I know I’m a foreigner and I live in this country. I’m certainly worried.”
Pretti was shot and killed after allegedly confronting police during a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operation on the city’s south side. The shooting death came weeks after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good.
DHS said Good was shot in self-defense after using her SUV in a way that posed a threat. DHS said the video showed Good interfering with ICE agents by parking his vehicle in the roadway in an apparent attempt to block federal vehicles.
The National Basketball Players Association also condemned the Border Patrol’s actions.
“After the announcement of yet another fatal shooting in Minneapolis, a city that has been at the forefront of the fight against injustice, NBA players can no longer remain silent,” the union said. “Now more than ever, we must defend the right to free speech and stand in solidarity with Minnesotans who are protesting and risking their lives to demand justice.
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“The NBA playing fraternity, 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. The NBPA and its members extend our deepest condolences to the families of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, as our thoughts remain focused on the safety and well-being of all members of our community.”
