Spurs star expresses horror at fatal federal agent shootings, breaks with team messaging on hot-button topic
Victor Wembanyama is choosing principle over caution. The San Antonio Spurs star, fully aware that his PR team advised against it, spoke out Tuesday about the fatal shootings of two civilians by federal agents during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. The 21-year-old French player didn’t hide behind politically correct language or defer the question. He said what he actually thinks, consequences be damned.
“Every day I wake up and see the news, and I’m horrified,” Wembanyama told reporters after practice. “I think it’s crazy that some people might make it seem like or make it sound like the murder of civilians is acceptable.”
That’s a direct statement. That’s a player choosing authenticity over safety. Wembanyama acknowledged the cost of that decision—he said “for sure” when asked if he feared repercussions for speaking openly about such a sensitive topic. He also acknowledged that he’s a foreigner living in the United States, which adds another layer of complexity to his position. Speaking out on American social issues as a non-citizen carries real risks. Yet he spoke anyway.
The shootings in question killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, and Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three. They occurred during what authorities described as a widespread immigration enforcement operation. The deaths sparked protests throughout Minneapolis in freezing temperatures and deepened the divide between citizens and law enforcement in the city. Investigations are ongoing, and no charges have been filed in either case.
When staying silent feels like complicity
Wembanyama explained why he couldn’t keep quiet despite the obvious risks. “PR has tried,” he said, acknowledging his team’s attempt to keep him from making statements on divisive topics. But he wasn’t having it. He said he reads the news every day and can’t ignore what he’s seeing. The shootings aren’t abstract policy debates. They’re deaths. Civilians. People with families.
His stance mirrors comments from fellow Frenchman Guerschon Yabusele of the New York Knicks, who posted on X: “I can’t stop thinking about the tragic events unfolding in Minnesota, and even though I’m French, I can’t remain silent. What’s happening is beyond comprehension. We’re talking about murders here; these are serious matters. The situation must change, the government must stop operating this way. I stand with Minnesota.”
Wembanyama commended Yabusele for speaking his mind, but he also noted something important: Yabusele’s words “might have some price right now.” That’s the reality both players are navigating. Speaking truth has consequences. They’re choosing to speak anyway, but they’re not naive about the cost.
The calculation between silence and risk
What makes Wembanyama’s position interesting is his honesty about the limits of what he’s willing to say. He acknowledged that saying “everything that’s on my mind would have a cost that’s too great for me right now.” That’s not cowardice. That’s realism. He’s making a conscious decision about which battles matter most and what he can actually afford to risk.
“I’m conscious also that saying everything that’s on my mind would have a cost that’s too great for me right now,” he explained. “So, I’d rather not get into too many details.” He’s choosing the middle ground: speaking out on the core issue while protecting himself from going too far into territory that could genuinely damage his career or status.
That’s a calculation many athletes refuse to make publicly. They either stay completely silent or they go all-in on activism. Wembanyama is doing something harder: acknowledging the stakes while still refusing to pretend the shootings didn’t happen or that civilian deaths are acceptable.
A French player defining his values in America
Wembanyama’s willingness to speak despite being a foreigner says something about his character. He could hide behind his international status, claim cultural unfamiliarity with American issues, and deflect. Instead, he said he lives in America, he has concerns, and he can’t ignore what he sees on the news every day.
The NBPA released a statement saying the league’s players can “no longer remain silent.” Wembanyama took that seriously. He refused the PR script. He spoke his conscience. And he acknowledged that doing so carries a price he’s choosing to pay.
