Fresh off leading Team USA‘s men’s basketball team to Olympic gold in Paris, head coach Steve Kerr looked to inspire a different group of Americans.
Kerr, the head coach of Team USA and the NBA‘s Golden State Warriors, appeared on stage at the Democratic National Convention Monday night to endorse Kamala Harris and Tim Walz as the next President and Vice President of the United States.
Taking the stage at the United Center, the home of the Chicago Bulls – the team that Kerr won three consecutive championships with between 1996 and 1998 – the 58-year-old addressed the convention delegates in a rousing speech.
Yet, while the dominant message of the coach’s address called for unity, Kerr couldn’t resist firing a shot across the aisle.
Signing off in Chicago, Kerr issued a warning to rival, Donald Trump, just as he would to his opponents on the court, as he drew upon the iconic celebration of one of his star players.
Steve Kerr, head coach of Team USA, appeared on stage at Democratic National Convention
‘After the results are tallied that night [November 5], in the words of the great Steph Curry we can tell Donald Trump, “Night night,”‘ he finished, channeling his Warriors star by performing a sleeping gesture.
Curry recently performed his signature ‘Night Night’ celebration in Paris during the Olympic gold medal match against the host nation – a triumph which Kerr claimed encapsulated core American ideals.
‘The last time I was in a packed basketball arena it was in Paris, France,’ he said. ‘Nine days ago, some of the best players on Earth – 12 incredible American men – came together to win Olympic gold and the next night, I was back in that same building, watch June 12 more of the best players on Earth – our incredible American women – do the same thing.
‘I cannot think of a better metaphor for what this country is all about than the way Team USA came together at the Olympic
‘We had players from across our wonderful country – players who have trained and fought relentlessly, shed tears trying to beat one another throughout their careers – joining forces to wear the red, white, and blue. And when we won, the American flag raised to the rafters and national anthem playing, gold medals draped around the necks of our players whose hands were held over their hearts, it was the proudest moment of my life.’
Kerr drew upon the success of LeBron James, Curry and co in the French capital this summer to urge the American people to come together in support of the Democratic ticket against Trump on November 5.
Kerr mimicked his star Warriors player Steph Curry’s iconic ‘Night Night’ celebration
Curry recently performed the ‘Night Night’ celebration during the Olympic gold medal match
Fresh off leading Team USA to Olympic gold, Kerr backed Harris for President
‘The joy, the compassion, the commitment to our country that we saw at the Olympics is what Kamala Harris and Tim Walz have and is what our country needs. Real leadership. Not the kind that seeks to divide us but the kind that recognizes and celebrates our common purpose.
‘Think about what our team achieved with 12 Americans in Paris putting aside rivalries to represent our country. Now imagine what we could do with all 330 million of us playing on the same team. Not as Democrats, not as Republicans, not as libertarians, but as Americans who know the greatness of this nation doesn’t come from any one of us but from each of us doing our part to build a more perfect union.’
‘That vision is what this campaign is all about. It’s why I’m here tonight. And it’s why I’ll be getting out every day to help people get out and vote on November 5 and elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, as the next President and Vice President of the United States.’
Kerr also acknowledged the risk that wading into the political debate posed for those in the public eye – particular in sports – but insisted it was one he was willing to take.
‘I know very well that speaking out in politics these days comes with risks,’ he added. ‘I can see the “shut up and whistle” tweets being fired off as we speak.
‘But I also knew as soon as I was asked that it was too important as an American citizen not to speak up in an election of this magnitude. The reason I said yes to speaking here tonight is that as a coach and former player, as a husband, a son, a father, even a grandfather and as an American, I believe in a certain kind of leadership.
‘I believe that leaders must display dignity. I believe leaders must tell the truth. I believe that leaders should be able to laugh at themselves. I believe leaders must care for and loved the people they are leading. I believe leaders must possess knowledge and expertise but with the full awareness that none of us has all the answers and in fact some of the best answers often come from members of the team.
Kerr acknowledged the risk wading into the political debate posed for those in the public eye
Kerr drew upon the success of LeBron James, Steph Curry and co in the French capital
‘If you look for those qualities in your friends or your boss, or an employee, or your child’s teacher or your mayor, shouldn’t you want those same qualities in your president? And when you think about it that way, this is a no contest. With Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, I see all those qualities.’
Earlier this year, Kerr condemned a ‘shameful’ and ‘demoralizing’ day in the history of the United States, after former President Trump was shot at a campaign rally.
Trump, 78, was speaking on stage in Butler, Pennsylvania in July when a shooter attempted to assassinate him, with a bullet grazing his ear before secret service rushed the stage to protect him.
The historic events unfolded thousands of miles from where Team USA’s basketball team had been preparing for the Olympics, but head coach Kerr used a press conference to speak out about the incident.
‘This is a time where we feel very proud to represent our country wearing USA on our chest, competing in the Olympics,’ Kerr told reporters.
‘We’ve talked to the players about how important it’s to show the best version of us as human beings to represent our country in a respectful, dignified manner. It makes you want to do that even more so, because this is really shameful for us to sit here and think about what happened and what’s going on in our country.’
