Chet Holmgren, other NBA players react to shooting of Alex Pretti

Oklahoma City Thunder center and Minneapolis native Chet Holmgren said his parents live about three blocks from where Alex Pretti was killed by federal agents on Saturday, Jan. 24. His family members frequent the restaurants that line that section of Nicollet Avenue.

On Thursday, the Minnehaha Academy graduate will return to Minneapolis to take on the Timberwolves for the first time since the deaths of Pretti and Renee Good.

“I definitely think we’re too advanced as a species, just plain and simple, for things like that to be happening,” Holmgren said in a video posted to X by Thunder writer Addam M. Francisco. “No matter what your opinions are or what your beliefs are, you should be able to agree that nobody needs to be dying in the street.

“I wasn’t there. I don’t have a full picture of everything going on, so I can’t really speak on details and what happened and what transpired, but I just feel for the families of anybody who’s lost their life up there and I’m wishing safety for everybody.”

Holmgren, who won an NBA title last season with the Thunder, was one of a number of the league’s players to comment on Pretti’s death and the news coming out of Minneapolis in recent weeks. Wolves players, coach Chris Finch and Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr reacted to the news after their game Sunday, Jan. 25. The NBA players association released a statement on behalf of its membership.

Here is a sampling of other quotes and statements.

Former Wolves center Karl-Anthony Towns, now with the New York Kicks, in a post to X: “What is happening in the Twin Cities and the Great North Star State is heartbreaking to witness. These events have cost lives and shaken families — and we must call for accountability, transparency, and protections for all people. This moment demands that we reflect honestly on what our values truly are. My thoughts, prayers, and deepest condolences are with the families of Renée Good and Alex Pretti. I stand with the people of Minnesota.”

Cleveland guard Donovan Mitchell noted that the Cavaliers played in Minneapolis the day after Good’s death. He told reporters: “It’s one of those things where there’s a human element to all this. We were there for the first one and then to see it happen again, it’s like it’s become the norm. You know what I mean? … We are in this bubble as NBA players, we’re removed, but being there in Minnesota when [Good’s death] happened, it really made you open your eyes because you’re there.

“You feel it. It’s 10 minutes away. We were on lockdown in the hotel. You can only feel for the people of Minnesota, feel for the families, because it’s not right. It’s the human element. It’s the human part of that. I’ll try not to curse, that gets to me. There’s so much craziness and it’s this, it’s that. Let’s be humans. What about that? I think that’s what’s awful. It’s not right that it keeps happening. It’s not right [it’s] desensitized the way it is.”