Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has spoken out The Democratic National Convention on Monday night at the United Center in Chicago, where he won three NBA championships as the point guard for the Chicago Bulls from 1993 to 1998.
“It’s so nice to be back at the United Center. A lot of good things happened in that building, especially in the ’90s,” Kerr said. “Young people, Google ‘Michael Jordan’ and you can read all about it.”
“There was an incredible atmosphere in that building back then,” he continued. “And I feel that same winning spirit here tonight.”
Kerr, the head coach of the U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team, recently returned after coaching the team that won a gold medal in Paris.
“I can’t think of a better metaphor for what this country is about than the way Team USA came together,” he said, adding: “It was the proudest moment of my life.”
Kerr said he accepted the invitation to speak at a political convention knowing he would be criticized.
“I know full well that talking about politics these days is risky. I can see the ‘shut up and hiss’ tweets being thrown around right now,” he said. “But I also knew, after being questioned as an American citizen, that it was too important not to speak out in an election of this magnitude.”
Kerr said that as “a coach and a 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 leaders should have dignity. I believe leaders should tell the truth,” Kerr said. “I believe leaders should care for and love the people they lead.”
“If you look for those qualities in your friends, in a boss, in an employee, in your child’s teacher, or in your mayor, shouldn’t you look for them in your president?” he asked to applause. “And when you think about it that way, there’s no competition. With Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, I see all of those qualities.”
Kerr praised Walz, who coached a high school football team to the state championship in 1999.
“From coach to coach, it was awesome,” Kerr said.
At the end of his speech, Kerry referenced Warriors and Team USA point guard Steph Curry while discussing what he hopes to see happen on election night.
“Once the results are counted,” Kerr said, “we can – in the words of the great Steph Curry – say to Donald Trump, ‘Good night.’”
