The NBA realm did not remain tight-lipped after another deadly weekend in Minneapolis. As protests spread and questions grew louder, Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell cut through the noise with a simple point. This is not about politics. It is about people.
This Monday, star SG reflected on the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by ICE agents, just weeks after Renee Good was killed in the same city. His words echoed across locker rooms, press conferences, and social media.
The league has seen statements before. This time felt different. Mitchell spoke as a player, a vice president of the NBPA, and someone who witnessed the fallout firsthand while in Minnesota earlier this month.
Donovan Mitchell Calls Out Violence After Second Fatal ICE Shooting in Minneapolis
Apr 28, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; President Donald Trump honors the Super Bowl LIX champion Philadelphia Eagles at The White House in Washington D.C., on April 28, 2025. Mandatory Credit: Josh Morgan-USA TODAY via Imagn Images
Apr 28, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; President Donald Trump honors the Super Bowl LIX champion Philadelphia Eagles at The White House in Washington D.C., on April 28, 2025. Mandatory Credit: Josh Morgan-USA TODAY via Imagn Images
The update came this Saturday, when federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, during an ICE operation in Minneapolis. The T-Wolves postponed their showdown that night. Before Sunday’s rescheduled tipoff, the team held a condolence. It marked the second such tribute this month.
Mitchell discussed the issue before the Cavaliers’ game on Monday during a press conference at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
“There’s a human element that gets to me,” Mitchell told reporters after practice. “It’s not right that it’s desensitized. It’s all bullshit. I pray for everybody that is affected by it and that we figure this out. It’s getting out of hand. That can’t be who we are as a country and as people.”
Donovan Mitchell on ICE:
“There’s a human element that gets to me. It's not right that it's desensitized. It’s all bullshit. I pray for everybody that is affected by it and that we figure this out. It's getting out of hand. That can’t be who we are as a country and as people.” pic.twitter.com/JMoFIp60PA
— ¹⁰ (@HoodiGarland) January 27, 2026
Further added,“We are in this bubble as NBA players,” Mitchell said. “But when you are there, you feel it. It’s ten minutes away. You open your eyes.”
The NBPA released a statement on Monday afternoon, supporting protesters and condemning the violence. Mitchell serves as a VP of the union.His concern went beyond Minneapolis. During the same availability, Mitchell referenced reports of a five-year-old boy detained at a Texas facility while seeking asylum with his father.
“That’s a child by himself,” Mitchell said. “What about the human side of that?”
Apart from Mitchell, many players, including Stephen Curry, Jaylen Brown, Victor Wembanyama, and Breanna Stewart, joined the list. But it was Mitchell’s voice that cut through, sharp and pressing.
Mitchell did not claim to have all the answers. He did not argue policy. He asked for empathy. In a moment filled with division, his message landed hard.