The Oklahoma City Thunder have finally lost another game, as they bowed out of the NBA Cup at the hands of Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. The star, Wemby, has often been called an alien, and rightly so, as his performances, like the one he put up against the Thunder, are seemingly otherworldly. But no one has quite used the term in the same context as Stan Van Gundy did earlier today.
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Van Gundy was on broadcasting duty for the Cup semi-final today and was amazed to see Wembanyama’s return to action from injury. He put up 22 points in just 21 minutes, guiding his Spurs to a famous victory that sets up a date with the New York Knicks for the Finals. But the way SVG reacted was fairly questionable.
In the fourth quarter, when Wemby was getting ready to shoot a free throw, the term alien was used to describe him. Van Gundy jumped in, reminding others to be careful about using that term. Because the Trump administration has made it its mission to “deport” them from the country.
“You gotta watch that word,” he said. “They deport [aliens]. We do not want Victor Wembanyama deported. Let’s go with a different nickname.”
Stan Van Gundy talkin about deporting aliens with a minute left in the NBA Cup pic.twitter.com/p0VaVHDNNh
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) December 14, 2025
The reactions among the NBA community (on X) were half-bemused, half-shocked. It’s a sensitive and somewhat polarizing topic to be making jokes about. “I thought I was the only one that thought that was weird LMAO Then proceeds to bring Wemby in the convo,” a fan wrote on the social media platform.
“Yeah, that was too much of Stan for one night. They should’ve switched. I got a headache from listening to him,” another fan added about the 66-year-old.
For those not supporting the work ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is putting in to deport immigrants from the country, this was a joke in poor taste. Others simply found it edgy and hilarious. There was a mix of reactions, with some even calling for NBA commissioner Adam Silver to fine Van Gundy.
But if Van Gundy really wants the “alien” nickname to go away, he’s in for some bad news. Wembanyama loves it.
The Frenchman was first given that label when LeBron James described him as an alien because of his size and the way he moves and plays like a guard. Nike, too, has embraced the term, using extraterrestrial-style art and graphics in its branding.
