Overview
- During an Amazon Prime Video broadcast of Spurs–Thunder, Van Gundy told play-by-play announcer Michael Grady to avoid calling Victor Wembanyama “alien,” saying, “They deport those.”
- Grady had defended the label as fitting, reflecting the nickname’s widespread use to describe Wembanyama’s rare size-skill combination across NBA coverage.
- No league action has been reported, but sports and political outlets amplified the exchange with polarized reactions over mixing politics into a game telecast.
- The Mirror placed the remark in current U.S. deportation discourse by citing Department of Homeland Security figures referenced during Trump’s administration.
- The comment came during a San Antonio win over Oklahoma City, with Wembanyama returning from a calf strain to score 22 points in 21 minutes.