NBA Fans rushed into the replies after a quiet moment, tip-off turned into a loud online fight.
Before the Golden State Warriors faced the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis, a moment of silence was held.
ESPN shared the clip, writing, “A moment of silence was held in memory of Alex Pretti ahead of the Warriors-Timberwolves game in Minneapolis.”
A moment of silence was held in memory of Alex Pretti ahead of the Warriors-Timberwolves game in Minneapolis. pic.twitter.com/N4O7GIM4QD
— ESPN (@espn) January 25, 2026
It was meant to be brief and respectful. It didn’t stay that way. The reactions went in very different directions.
One of the strongest responses came from @TexasAce0328, who rejected the tribute outright. “Alex Pretti was a criminal. He attempted to kill ICE agents,” the user wrote, before adding, “I only have contempt for him.”
That post spread quickly, pulling in NBA Fans who felt the tribute crossed a line.
Others pushed back just as hard.
User @cnoevl21 challenged the claim, asking, “‘attempted to kill ice agents’… With a phone? Because his gun when never in his hand for a single second of the interaction.” They followed it up with, “So you are either blind or stupid. Which one is it?”
Their reply was shared across the thread as NBA Fans argued over what really happened and how it should be framed.
From there, the discussion drifted far away from the court. NBA Fans debated reports, body cam details, and whether a public tribute should happen before a game at all. Some said the moment was about loss and community. Others said it sent the wrong message.
The tribute became a test of where people stand, what sources they trust, and how they react when sports and real-world violence touch the same space. And once again, NBA Fans showed how quickly a pregame scene can become a national argument.
NBA Fans Turn Doc Rivers Clip Into Another Firestorm After Alex Pretti Tribute
The anger didn’t stop with one pregame clip.
As talk about the Alex Pretti tribute spread, another video began making the rounds. This one showed Doc Rivers at a press conference, speaking about recent shootings and violence in America.
The clip was reposted by @TimRunsHisMouth, who framed it in political terms, writing, “The @nba, who bends over for anything the CCP wants… truly hates America and incites violence against ICE officers.”
That caption alone was enough to set things off.
NBA Fans filled the replies, with many no longer talking about the original moment of silence at all. The thread became a wider argument about the league, politics, and responsibility.
User @realdfwdave added, “The only race stuff comes from the Democrats who want white people replaced.” They followed that with, “Stop giving them your time and money.” Their comment was shared by NBA Fans who felt the league had taken a clear side.
Others aimed their anger more directly at people inside the sport.
@MilesBrodie tagged a team account and wrote, “@Bucks – you employ an astonishingly uninformed, polarizing idiot.” That line pulled team management into the discussion, even though the original clip focused on a general statement about violence.
By this point, NBA Fans weren’t really reacting to one event anymore. They were reacting to each other. Some accused the league of pushing an agenda. Others said the comments were being twisted on purpose.
