Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves escaped with a dramatic 104–103 comeback win over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night, but the tight finish was not the only moment that drew attention inside Target Center. A courtside fan interaction involving arena security quickly became a larger conversation about policy, protest, and context in Minneapolis.
Both teams entered the matchup on the second night of a back to back, and the Spurs appeared fresher for most of the evening. Minnesota trailed by as many as 19 points midway through the third quarter before rallying late to steal the win. As the game unfolded, a fan seated near the floor drew attention for reasons that had nothing to do with basketball.
According to reporting from The Athletic, Minneapolis civil rights and criminal defense attorney Tim Phillips was asked by arena security to remove a black T-shirt with white block lettering that read “ICE OUT.” Phillips said he wore the shirt in response to an increased presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the Twin Cities.
Incident Tied to Recent Minneapolis Shooting
The message on the shirt came days after a fatal encounter involving federal agents in Minneapolis. On the morning of January 7, 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in the Powderhorn Park neighborhood, roughly three miles from Target Center, per Sport Bible.
Federal officials said Good attempted to run over immigration agents with her vehicle and described the shooting as self defense. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey later said the agent acted recklessly, a statement that fueled widespread public reaction.
The Timberwolves acknowledged the gravity of the situation earlier in the week, holding a moment of silence for Good during their home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Three days later, the interaction involving Phillips unfolded during the Spurs game.
Phillips told The Athletic that security personnel cited an arena policy barring “Apparel with Explicit Wording and/or Graphics.” He said he offered to put a hoodie over the shirt, but security initially told him the shirt would need to be taken.
“I had offered to put my hoodie back on over it,” Phillips said. “But they said they had to take it.”
Arena Clarifies Policy, Issues Apology
Phillips declined to surrender the shirt. After further discussion, security staff determined the policy had been misapplied. Phillips briefly left his seat, changed shirts, and returned to watch the Timberwolves finish the comeback win.
On January 12, Target Center issued an apology, acknowledging that a staff member misinterpreted arena policy.
“At this evening’s game, a security guard misinterpreted arena policy during an interaction with a guest, resulting in the guest being asked to remove a piece of apparel unnecessarily,” the arena said in a statement provided to The Athletic. “We have reiterated all policies to our staff and apologize to the guest for any inconvenience caused.”
Phillips said he felt the message on his shirt was not political in nature, but a reflection of community concern.
“I was disappointed that they felt that that was a political message,” he said. “I think that people in Minnesota are in agreement that ICE is terrorizing communities. Don’t think that is a political or partisan issue.”
It is important to note that the Minnesota Timberwolves are tenants at Target Center and do not control arena security or fan conduct policies. The organization does not set guidelines for staff interactions with guests.
For Phillips, the incident underscored broader concerns about free expression and the impact of recent events on local communities, concerns that extended beyond the final score on the court.