NBA fans are split on Victor Wembanyama after comments he made about the death of Alex Pretti, who was killed during a fatal shooting involving federal agents in Minneapolis. The reaction online didn’t take long.
Coming off a 104–95 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, the San Antonio Spurs big man spoke about the situation, and the timing alone was enough to get people talking.
“Every day I see the news, I’m horrified,” said Wemby. “I think it’s crazy that some people might make it seem like or make it sound like the murder of civilians is acceptable.”
The Alex Pretti situation itself is tragic, but Wembanyama’s comments didn’t land one way. They split fans almost down the middle, and the reactions started piling up.
@kristenisbored lashed out at Wemby and said, “the french players are speaking up while most american players stay silent.”
the french players are speaking up while most american players stay silent
— Kristen (Sad Girl Autumn Version) (@kristenisbored) January 27, 2026
Others felt the opposite.
@saba12_ showed support, saying, “Huge respect for Wemby. Love this answer.”
Some fans weren’t buying it at all.
@FirstAmericanAZ pushed back, writing, “Other than Steve Kerr…Notice how none of these guys can look directly in the camera. It’s a performance.”
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Pretti allegedly drew a gun, which led ICE agents to wrestle him to the ground before shooting him. That detail didn’t clear things up for fans. If anything, it made the discussion louder.
“Be uber physical”: NBA fans discover Victor Wembanyama’s weakness
While the off-court comments kept circulating, Wembanyama’s night against the Pelicans added another layer to the conversation.
Matched up with Zion Williamson, Wemby had trouble dealing with the Pelicans star’s strength. Zion attacked the paint, absorbed contact, and still finished plays, something Wembanyama struggled to disrupt.
@Boomstik45 didn’t hesitate, saying, “Wemby is never gonna be uber physical. That’s how you neutralize him – be uber physical.”
@ShakeMiltonStan added, “Someone gotta tell me why is he defending him so high he cant shoot for sh**.”
Others took a more detailed look.
@CaddoOf broke it down, saying, “He went to his body, had him move his feet. Z is so strong that Wemby can’t body him or use his length. Z just jumps through it and over with ease.”
By the end of the game, the numbers told part of the story. Wembanyama finished with 16 points, while Williamson put up 24 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists.
Between the comments earlier and the matchup later, it was one of those nights where Wembanyama was talked about for more than one reason — and none of it felt settled.
