Spurs center Victor Wembanyama had a moment of real reflection when speaking to reporters on Tuesday.
In a clip shared on X/Twitter, the NBA superstar didn’t hold back when discussing his concerns over what he’s seeing happening in the United States, especially after the killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
“PR has tried, but I’m not going to sit here and be politically correct,” Wembanyama said. “Every day I wake up and see the news and I’m horrified. I think it is crazy that some people make it sound like it’s acceptable, like the murder of civilians is acceptable.
“I read the news and sometimes i’m asking deep questions about my own life. But, you know, i’m concious 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.”
A U.S. Border Patrol agent fatally shot Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse, on Saturday morning. Federal officials say the shooting was in self-defense after Pretti stepped into a confrontation between an immigration officer and a woman on the street.
Officials say that Pretti was armed, but no bystander videos appear to show him holding a weapon. The Minneapolis police chief said Pretti had a permit to carry a gun.
Pretti’s death follows another shooting death that occurred Jan. 7 when Renee Good was killed during an immigration stop. The deaths of Pretti and Good have led to protests and outrage not only in Minneapolis but around the country.
The French phenom was No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. He signed a four-year rookie scale contract valued at approximately $55.2 million in total.
This contract, which includes team options for the third and fourth seasons, set a record for the largest starting salary for a No. 1 overall pick under the current collective bargaining agreement.
