An emotional Chris Finch took to the podium Sunday ahead of Minnesota’s home game at Target Center. At the same moment an anti-ICE protest took place outside the arena, the Timberwolves’ coach expressed support for his city.
“I’m more than a resident. This is my home. I love living here. I love being a part of this community. I’ve been embraced from Day 1. People have been amazing,” Finch said. “It’s sad to watch what is happening.”
Alex Pretti was shot and killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis on Saturday morning, just a couple of miles away from Target Center. That, Finch noted, was the second time in less than three weeks that “we’ve lost another beloved member of our community in the most unimaginable way” after Renee Good was shot and killed by federal immigration agents on Jan. 7.
“As an organization, we are heartbroken for what we are having to witness and endure and watch,” Finch said. “We just want to extend our thoughts, prayers and concern for Mr. Pretti, family, all the loved ones and everyone involved in such an unconscionable situation in a community that we really love, (which is) full of people who are, by nature, peaceful and prideful.
“We just stand in support of our great community here.”
Golden State coach Steve Kerr echoed many of those sentiments, noting Minnesota has always been a stop he enjoyed along the NBA circuit.
“I love the city of Minneapolis. People here are wonderful, and it’s very sad what’s happening. I feel for the city,” Kerr said. It’s a wonderful place.
“As I said, I’ve always felt a great vibe here, Kerr said. “The expression ‘Minnesota Nice’ is a real thing. People here really, really care about each other and take care of their neighbors and go out of their way to help one another. It’s a beautiful city, and it’s just tough to see everybody really going through a lot of angst and anger and sadness and grief.”
Kerr has sensed “a pall” cast over the city.
“You can feel it,” he said. “A lot of people are suffering. Obviously a loss of life is the number one concern. Those families will never get their family members back.
“When all the unrest settles down, whenever that is, those family members won’t be returning home, and that’s devastating.”
Finch noted professional athletes and coaches are “forward-facing members of the community” whose duty it is to provide calming words or leadership in whatever small ways possible in moments of crisis.
“I think NBA players in general have always been very proud that they have had a platform and a voice and not afraid to use it,” Finch said. “I would expect that our guys would, at some point in time, when they felt the need, to be able to say the things they felt appropriate.”
The NBA Players Association put out a statement Sunday noting players “can no longer remain silent.”
“Now more than ever, we must defend the right to freedom of speech and stand in solidarity with the people in Minnesota protesting and risking their lives to demand justice,” the statement said. “The fraternity of NBA players, like the United States itself, is a community enriched by its global citizens, and we refuse to let the flames of division threaten the civil liberties that are meant to protect us all.
“The NBPA and its members extend our deepest condolences to the families of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, just as our thoughts remain focused on the safety and well-being of all members of our community.”
Saturday’s game between Golden State and Minnesota was postponed to Sunday in the aftermath of the killing and ensuing protests, a decision made by the NBA to “prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community.”
Kerr noted he received a call from Finch on Saturday about the possibility of not playing. Kerr noted he was going to lean on Minnesota’s perspective for such a decision. He also talked to Wolves forward Joe Ingles. Ultimately, the decision was made to play a day later, for which Finch and players alike were grateful.
“Playing basketball just didn’t feel like the right thing to do,” Finch said.
Who knows if it was Sunday, either. Finch said there have been no conversations around the team regarding a possible boycott of games or anything of that nature, though he added “we feel like we’ve got a lot of work to do” in the community.
As for where that work can begin, Kerr – who has long been one of the foremost public commentators among professional sports coaches – noted Americans have never been “perfect,” but he thinks the ideals and values have been in the right place.
“I think no matter what side of the aisle you stand on, I think remembering the values that come with the Constitution, that come with citizenship, the values of looking after each other are so important right now,” Kerr said. “Just because of the extremism that we can feel from all over the place. People are so angry. There should be an appeal to our better angels to look after one another, and to recognize what’s happening. We’re being divided by media for profit, by misinformation. There’s so much out there that is really difficult for all of us to sort of reconcile.
“And so in times like these you have to lean on values and who you are and who you want to be, either as an individual or a country, and I think that’s the biggest thing.”
Steve Kerr speaks prior to the start of an NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on January 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
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