Spurs star Victor Wembanyama condemns 'murder of civilians' in Minnesota: 'I'm horrified'
Wembanyama Breaks Script, Condemns Minnesota Killings: "I’m Horrified"
Victor Wembanyama has spent his young career defying expectations on the hardwood, but on Tuesday, the San Antonio Spurs superstar defied his own organization’s guidance to address a national tragedy. In a candid media availability that has since rippled across the league, the 22-year-old center offered an unflinching condemnation of the recent violence in Minnesota, where federal agents fatally shot two civilians earlier this week.
While professional athletes often navigate social issues with carefully curated statements, Wembanyama admitted he was advised to take a safer route regarding the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis. Instead, he chose raw honesty.
"PR has tried, but I'm not going to sit here and give some politically correct answer," Wembanyama told reporters following practice at the Victory Capital Performance Center. "Every day I wake up and see the news, and I'm horrified. I think it's crazy that some people make it sound like it's acceptable, like the murder of civilians is acceptable."
The shootings have turned Minneapolis into a flashpoint of civil unrest, leading to the postponement of a Timberwolves game and prompting a forceful statement from the National Basketball Players Association declaring that players "can no longer remain silent." Wembanyama’s comments, however, carried unique weight given his status as a foreign national living in the United States. He acknowledged the precarious nature of his position, noting that while he often asks "deep questions" about his life in America, he understands the potential cost of speaking out.
"I know I'm a foreigner. I live in this country. I am concerned, for sure," Wembanyama said.
His sentiments echoed those of fellow Frenchman and New York Knicks forward Guerschon Yabusele, who stated earlier in the week that the situation was "beyond comprehension." By stepping forward, Wembanyama has signaled that his role as the face of the NBA’s future includes a willingness to engage with its most uncomfortable present realities, regardless of the "politically correct" playbook. As the league grapples with the fallout in Minnesota, its brightest young star has made it clear he will not be silenced by the jersey he wears.
Victor Wembanyama has spent his young career defying expectations on the hardwood, but on Tuesday, the San Antonio Spurs superstar defied his own organization’s guidance to address a national tragedy. In a candid media availability that has since rippled across the league, the 22-year-old center offered an unflinching condemnation of the recent violence in Minnesota, where federal agents fatally shot two civilians earlier this week.
While professional athletes often navigate social issues with carefully curated statements, Wembanyama admitted he was advised to take a safer route regarding the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis. Instead, he chose raw honesty.
"PR has tried, but I'm not going to sit here and give some politically correct answer," Wembanyama told reporters following practice at the Victory Capital Performance Center. "Every day I wake up and see the news, and I'm horrified. I think it's crazy that some people make it sound like it's acceptable, like the murder of civilians is acceptable."
The shootings have turned Minneapolis into a flashpoint of civil unrest, leading to the postponement of a Timberwolves game and prompting a forceful statement from the National Basketball Players Association declaring that players "can no longer remain silent." Wembanyama’s comments, however, carried unique weight given his status as a foreign national living in the United States. He acknowledged the precarious nature of his position, noting that while he often asks "deep questions" about his life in America, he understands the potential cost of speaking out.
"I know I'm a foreigner. I live in this country. I am concerned, for sure," Wembanyama said.
His sentiments echoed those of fellow Frenchman and New York Knicks forward Guerschon Yabusele, who stated earlier in the week that the situation was "beyond comprehension." By stepping forward, Wembanyama has signaled that his role as the face of the NBA’s future includes a willingness to engage with its most uncomfortable present realities, regardless of the "politically correct" playbook. As the league grapples with the fallout in Minnesota, its brightest young star has made it clear he will not be silenced by the jersey he wears.
