NBA: Victor Wembanyama ‘horrified’ by Minneapolis killings

Victor Wembanyama: "Every day, I wake up and see the news and I'm horrified." Photo / AFP

San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama said he was “horrified” by unrest in Minneapolis, where two civilians have been shot dead by federal agents during the Trump Administration’s immigration crackdown.

The 22-year-old French ace told reporters he could not stay silent on recent events in Minnesota despite being advised to steer clear of the subject.

“You know, PR [public relations] has tried, but I’m not gonna sit here and give some politically correct [answer],” Wembanyama said following Spurs practice.

“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 make it sound like it’s acceptable – like the murder of civilians is acceptable.”

Wembanyama was speaking just days after Minneapolis was left reeling by the death of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti. Pretti was gunned down by federal agents at the weekend, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot dead mother-of-three Renee Good in her car.

A small group of NBA athletes and coaches, including Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton and Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, have already condemned the killings. Haliburton said in a social media post Pretti was “murdered”.

Wembanyama’s teammate De’Aaron Fox also spoke out about the killing of Pretti.

“I’d be charged if I shot someone in the back, they fall. And then even if it’s in my house, even if I’m protecting my property, and then I decide I want to empty the entire clip. That’s where you get to excessive force and all these other things,” Fox said.

Wembanyama, meanwhile, admitted he had been hesitant to speak at length about the issue, despite his disquiet.

“Every day I read the news and I’m sometimes asking very deep questions about my own life,” he said.

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

– AFP