Foreign NBA Star Speaks Out on Civilian Murders in Minneapolis

It’s been a bit disturbing to hear the comments from different NBA players regarding the recent murders that have happened in Minneapolis. Even players on the Timberwolves have made public comments that show a lack of knowledge on the subject, and beyond that, a fear of speaking out about the atrocities.

Of course, it isn’t an NBA player’s job to speak out against social or political issues. Still, when something is tearing apart the community that a player plays in, you’d expect them to be a little more outraged. 

Victor Wembanyama has barely lived in the United States for more than a couple of years. Still, he decided to be a bit more frank when speaking about the recent ICE killings. 

"PR has tried, but I'm not going to sit here and give some politically correct [answer]. Every day I see the news, and I'm horrified. I think it's crazy that some people might make it seem like or make it sound like it's acceptable, like the murder of civilians is acceptable. I read the news, and sometimes I'm asking very deep questions about my own life. I'm conscious also saying everything that's on my mind will have a cost that's too great for me right now, so I'd rather not get into too many details. It's terrible. I know I'm a foreigner, but I live in this country, and I am concerned."

It seems like Wembanyama would have said even more if he weren’t legitimately fearful of how the repercussions of speaking out could affect his own visa status.

Wembanyama has proven early on in his career to be well-educated and that he plans to use his fame and voice for good. This is incredibly mature for a 22-year-old. It’s just another reason that Wembanyama is setting himself up to be the face of the NBA for years to come.