NBA Players Speak Out After Fatal Shooting in Minneapolis: “Something Needs to Be Said”
BOSTON - In the wake of another fatal shooting during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis, the NBA community is once again using its voice to call for justice.
Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was killed during an ICE-led operation over the weekend - the latest in a string of deadly incidents involving federal immigration officers. The news sparked protests in Minneapolis, a city that’s become a focal point in the national conversation around civil rights and law enforcement overreach.
The next day, the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) issued a statement that pulled no punches. The message was clear: silence is no longer an option.
“We must defend the right to freedom of speech and stand in solidarity with the people in Minnesota protesting and risking their lives to demand justice,” the NBPA said. “The fraternity of NBA players, like the United States itself, is a community enriched by its global citizens, and we refuse to let the flames of division threaten the civil liberties that are meant to protect us all.”
The union also extended condolences to the families of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, emphasizing that their focus remains on the safety and well-being of all members of the community.
Jaylen Brown: “It’s a lot to encapsulate in words”
Jaylen Brown, a longtime NBPA Vice President and one of the league’s most consistent voices on social justice issues, acknowledged that the statement took time to come together - not because of a lack of urgency, but because of the need for unity.
“Things have been happening for a while,” Brown said Monday night. “People have rightfully made complaints and protested for some time now.
But it takes time to get a bunch of guys, a majority of guys, on the same page, to be able to put something out. So, that’s what you see.”
Brown added that players are grieving alongside the families impacted and are demanding accountability and reform.
“Our players, we don’t stand for it,” he said. “We demand accountability, and we think that there needs to be some improvement in the tactics, the profiling, or whatever is going on.
It’s a lot for everyone to see - not just in Minnesota, but all over the U.S. Even here in Boston, there are things going on.
It’s a lot to encapsulate in words.”
A History of Speaking Out - and a New Moment of Reckoning
The NBPA’s Executive Committee includes nine players: Fred VanVleet, Grant Williams, Mason Plumlee, Jaren Jackson Jr., Donovan Mitchell, Karl-Anthony Towns, Gabe Vincent, Jaylen Brown, and one additional member. This group has been no stranger to speaking out on social issues.
Back in 2020, following the murder of George Floyd in the same city, the NBPA and NBA players led one of the most visible athlete-led movements in recent memory. From kneeling during the anthem to wearing social justice messages on jerseys, the players made it clear they weren’t just athletes - they were advocates.
But in recent years, the union had been quieter on issues like immigration enforcement. That changed this week.
Sunday’s events marked a turning point. Beyond the union’s official statement, several players took to social media or used their postgame platforms to speak out.
Karl-Anthony Towns, who spent the first nine years of his career in Minneapolis, called for “accountability, transparency, and protections for all people.”
Tyrese Haliburton didn’t mince words. The Indiana Pacers guard posted on X: “Alex Pretti was murdered.”
Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs’ rising star from France, addressed the issue during practice on Tuesday, choosing not to stick to a scripted response.
“Every day, I wake up and see the news and I’m horrified,” Wembanyama said. “I think that it’s crazy that some people make it sound like it’s acceptable - like the murder of civilians is acceptable.”
Donovan Mitchell: “This is BS”
Donovan Mitchell, another NBPA Executive Committee member, spoke candidly about how the news hit home for him.
“I have family who… came to this country, right? You know what I mean?”
Mitchell said. “And they fear for their lives.
They fear. And they’re legal citizens - like, they fear.
I don’t know the whole situation of the people that got murdered, but I do know that this is BS, right? Like, it’s BS and that’s just been my standpoint on it.”
Mitchell's comments reflect a sentiment shared by many players - that the fear and trauma extend beyond the headlines and into their own families and communities.
What Comes Next?
Whether the NBPA and its players will follow up with more action remains to be seen. In 2020, the response went beyond words - it led to tangible changes, partnerships, and league-wide initiatives. For now, though, the statement and the players’ individual responses serve as a powerful reminder that this generation of NBA athletes is not afraid to speak out.
As Jaylen Brown put it: “Basketball is entertainment, and it’s important - but there’s other things going on in the world that are more important. Something needs to be said.”
And this week, the players made sure it was.