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Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr might have opted to sit out from a conversation regarding international affairs, as he was asked for his comments on the ongoing rift between the NBA and China — but he had time to respond to President Donald Trump and his remarks about him earlier this week.
Trump denounced Kerr by saying he was “pandering” to China and calling it truly “sad, very, very sad” that he had no opinion to offer on this ordeal, all while offering no opinion of his own, saying China must do “whatever they want to do.”
Kerr, who has never shied away from opining in American politics, hit Trump where it hurts the most, comparing him to prior presidents and regimes that came before him.
“Last night, I was thinking about my various visits to the White House,” Kerr told Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. “I’ve lived a privileged life. Met, I think, the last five presidents, prior to President Trump. The first one was in 1984, and Ronald Reagan was president. He invited my mom and me, six months after my dad was killed in a terrorist attack.
“President Reagan and Vice President Bush invited us into the Oval Office, and spent about a half hour with us, thanking us for my dad’s service; he was in education. Thanking us for my dad’s commitment to trying to share American values in the Middle East. Trying to promote peace in the Middle East. And all I could think of last night was the contrast of what has happened in 35 years.
“There was (then) no regard for whose side you were on, politically, political party, anything like that. It was just, ‘You are an American.’ The [office] held such dignity and respect both from the people who were visiting and especially from the people who sat inside. It’s just sad that it’s come crashing down, and that we’re now living this.”
Kerr didn't just choose not to opine on the NBA-China rift, but admitted he was not informed enough to give an educated response, saying he was still reading up on China's rift with Hong Kong, which is largely the origin of this conflict. Forward Draymond Green took a similar stance on Thursday, noting he has to first learn what triggered this situation before he can adeptly comment on such a fragile and tenuous situation between the league and its biggest international market.
Kerr noted this isn't the first time Trump has taken a shot at him or to the Warriors, something that was unprecedented before the 45th president took office.
“I realize the horse was out of the barn a long time ago,” said Kerr. “But for me personally, this was my experience with, wow, has the office sunken low. My hope is that we can find a mature unifier, from either party, to sit in that chair and try to restore some dignity to the Oval Office again. And I think it will happen.”
