Thunder's Chet Holmgren Speaks on Killings in Hometown Minneapolis

Holmgren expresses sadness over recent violence, says 'nobody needs to be dying in the streets'

Jan. 28, 2026 at 10:07am

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Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren made a heartfelt statement regarding the recent killings by ICE agents in his hometown of Minneapolis before facing the Minnesota Timberwolves. Holmgren, who has close personal ties to the affected area, expressed his grief over the tragic events, saying 'you never wanna see something like that happen' and that 'we're too advanced as a species' for such violence. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault also shared his condolences for the Minneapolis community as the team prepares to play the Timberwolves.

Why it matters

Holmgren's comments provide a personal perspective on the impact of the killings in Minneapolis, a city he is deeply connected to. His empathy and desire for change resonate beyond just the sports world, highlighting the human toll of the violence. The Thunder's approach to addressing the situation internally also reflects the broader challenges teams face in navigating sensitive social issues.

The details

In the aftermath of the killings by ICE agents in Minneapolis, Holmgren discussed how close the incidents hit to home, with his parents' house just blocks away from where the latest incident occurred. He expressed his grief over the tragedy, saying 'you never wanna see something like that happen' and that 'we're too advanced as a species' for such violence. Holmgren acknowledged that he doesn't have all the facts, but wished 'safety for everybody' affected. Meanwhile, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said the team would handle the situation internally, noting it's 'obviously a very sad, unsettling situation' in a 'great community'.

  • The killings by ICE agents in Minneapolis occurred recently.

The players

Chet Holmgren

A forward for the Oklahoma City Thunder who is from Minneapolis.

Mark Daigneault

The head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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What they’re saying

“That's a very loaded topic, obviously. I don't wanna get into the opinions and politics of everything, but I definitely just wanna send wishes to everybody up there that's been affected. I have a lot of friends, family, neighbors, especially close in that area. My parents' house is three blocks from where the latest incident happened. I know that area well. My sisters would always get donuts at the donut shop on that street. My grandpa's favorite Greek restaurant is on that street. It's all very close. So, seeing that happen definitely takes you back. You never wanna see anything like that happen. I definitely think we're too advanced as a species — just plain and simple — for things like that to be happening. No matter what your opinions are or your beliefs are. You should be able to agree that nobody needs to be dying in the streets.”

— Chet Holmgren (clutchpoints.com)

“Well, organizationally, handle the team, as we always do, internally. We wouldn't be going to a city if there was a safety risk as it relates to the league. The league would let us know if that was the case, obviously, they've had games since then. I try not to do too much commenting, but it's obviously a very sad, unsettling situation there. It's a great community that we've gone to for years. So, our hearts go out to that community, as they're obviously going through it right now.”

— Mark Daigneault, Head Coach, Oklahoma City Thunder (clutchpoints.com)

The takeaway

Chet Holmgren's personal connection to the Minneapolis community and his heartfelt response to the recent killings there underscores the human impact of such tragic events. His desire for change and his coach's empathy for the affected community reflect the broader challenges sports teams face in navigating sensitive social issues while supporting their players and fans.