Video: Golden State Warriors Coach Steve Kerr Speaks at DNC
Updated: 10:17 p.m. EDT August 19, 2024
Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. It’s so much fun to be back here at the United Center. And as you know, a lot of great things happened in this building, especially in the ’90s. You kids, Google Michael Jordan and you can read all about it. Okay? There was an incredible atmosphere in this building back then and I feel that same winning spirit here tonight. The last time I was in a packed basketball arena was in Paris, France, nine days ago, some of the best players on the planet, 12 incredible Americans came together to win Olympic gold. And the next night, I was back in this same building watching 12 more of the best players on the planet. Our incredible American women are doing the same thing and I can’t think of a better metaphor for what this country is about than the way Team USA came together at the Olympics. We had players from all over our great country, players who trained and fought tirelessly, shed tears trying to outdo each other throughout their careers, joining forces to wear the red, white and blue. And when we won, the American flag was raised to the rafters, the national anthem was played, gold medals were draped around the necks of our players, hands over their hearts. It was the proudest moment of my life and the lives of a few of them. Thank you. Now, I never could have imagined this. *** A few days later, I received an invitation to enter *** a different kind of arena. And here I am. I know, I know full well that talking politics these days is risky. I can see the “shut up and hiss” tweets being thrown around 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 out in an election of this magnitude. The reason I said yes to speaking here tonight is because as a *** coach and a former player, as a *** husband, *** son, *** father, even *** grandfather, and as an American, I believe in *** a certain kind of leadership, I believe that leaders should have dignity. I believe that leaders should tell the truth. I believe that leaders should be able to laugh at themselves. I believe that leaders should care for and love the people they lead. I believe that leaders should have knowledge and expertise, but with the full understanding that none of us have all the answers. And in fact, some of the best answers often come from the people on the team. And if you look for those qualities in your friends or your boss or an employee or your child’s teacher or your mayor. And shouldn’t you want those same qualities in your president? And when you think about it that way, it’s not a competition with Kamala Harris and Tim Walls. I see all of these qualities that they’ve dedicated to serving others. Whether Vice President Harris is standing up for her community in the courtroom or Governor Walls is inspiring the next generation in the classroom or on the court for that matter. By the way, coach to coach, this guy is awesome. While I have to say that Coach Walls relied way too much on the blitz in ’99 against Mankato East, you had a *** solid defensive line. I would have played more press coverage with your corners and then dropped the safeties in *** Tampa two. That’s just my opinion. Sorry, I wanted you to know how I feel every day of the NBA season. Fine. But listen, the joy, the compassion, the commitment to our country that we saw in the Olympics. That’s what Kamala Harris and Tim Walls have. And that’s what our country needs in leadership, 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 accomplished with 12 Americans in Paris, putting aside rivalries to represent our country. Now imagine what we could do with 330 million of us playing on the same team. Not as Democrats, not as Republicans, not as Libertarians, but as Americans who know that the greatness of this nation comes not 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 about. That’s why I’m here tonight, and that’s why I’m going to be out there every day to help people get out and vote on November 5th and elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walls as the next president and vice president of the United States. And, and after the results are counted that night, we will be able to, in the words of the great Stephen Curry, say hello to Donald Trump. Thank you.
Video: Golden State Warriors Coach Steve Kerr Speaks at DNC
Updated: 10:17 p.m. EDT August 19, 2024
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday night, drawing applause after mentioning his role as coach of the U.S. men’s basketball team, which won gold at the Paris Olympics earlier this month. “I can’t think of a better metaphor for what this country is about than how Team USA came together at the Olympics,” Kerr said. “We had players from all over our great country — players who have trained and fought tirelessly, shed tears trying to outdo each other throughout their careers — coming together to wear the red, white and blue,” he said. Kerr has supported the Biden administration and has previously spoken out on issues such as reducing gun violence. Harris, who is from California, is also an avid Warriors fan. Watch Kerr’s full speech in the video player above.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday night, receiving applause after mentioning his role as coach of the U.S. men’s basketball team, which won gold at the Paris Olympics earlier this month.
“I can’t think of a better metaphor for what this country represents than the way Team USA came together at the Olympics,” Kerr said. “We had players from all over our great country — players who trained and fought tirelessly, who shed tears trying to outdo each other throughout their careers — come together to wear the red, white and blue,” he said.
Kerr is a supporter of the Biden administration and has previously spoken out on issues such as reducing gun violence. Harris, a California native, is also a vocal Warriors fan.
Watch Kerr’s full speech in the video player above.
