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, drawing on 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 we can in the words of the great Steph Curry we can tell Donald Trump, “Night night,”‘ he finished, channeling his Warriors star by resting his head against his hands.
Curry recently performed the infamous ‘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 he was in a packed basketball arena it’s 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 Olympics.
‘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, Steph Curry and co in the French capital this summer to urge the American people to come together in support of the Democratic ticket against Donald Trump on November 5.
‘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 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.’
More to follow.