Victor Wembanyama Joins a Growing List of NBA Players Speaking Out Against ICE in Minneapolis
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is adding his voice to growing criticism of Immigration and Customs Enforcement after a series of fatal shootings involving ICE agents, including two in Minneapolis that have sparked national outrage.
Speaking to reporters following practice at the Victory Capital Performance Center on Tuesday, Jan. 27, the 22-year-old center said he was “horrified” by what he has seen unfold.
Despite pressure to keep his remarks carefully scripted, Wembanyama made clear he would not soften his message. “PR has tried, but I’m not going to sit here and give some politically correct answer,” he said. “Every day I wake up and see the news, and I’m horrified. I think it’s crazy that some people might make it seem like or sound like the murder of civilians is acceptable.”
The comments come amid investigations into three high-profile killings involving ICE agents. On New Year’s Eve, an off-duty ICE agent in Los Angeles shot and killed Keith Porter Jr., a Black man, following reports of celebratory gunfire.
Weeks later, two more Americans, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were shot and killed in Minneapolis. All three cases remain under investigation, and no charges have been filed.
Wembanyama, who is from France and joined the NBA in 2023, acknowledged the personal risk of speaking openly about such a politically charged issue. “I read the news and sometimes I’m asking very deep questions about my own life,” he said, adding that saying everything on his mind would come at “a cost that’s too great for me right now.”
Still, he admitted the situation weighs heavily on him. “I know I’m a foreigner. I live in this country, and I have concerns for sure.”
His remarks follow a broader response from within the league. Two days earlier, the National Basketball Players Association released a statement saying players can “no longer remain silent.” Wembanyama is also the second Black French NBA player to speak out, following Guerschon Yabusele of the New York Knicks, who posted on X that the events in Minnesota were “beyond comprehension” and called for change.
Wembanyama praised Yabusele for speaking publicly, noting that doing so can carry consequences. “Each and every one of us has to decide the price we’re willing to pay,” he said, a sober reflection from a young star navigating the intersection of sports, politics, and conscience.
