The Golden State Warriors did not want to go to the White House to meet with President Donald Trump.
Instead, the 2018 NBA champs used their trip to Washington, D.C., this season to visit his predecessor.
The entire pro basketball team visited former President Barack Obama in his D.C. office for about an hour on Thursday.
This was prior to the team’s game against the Washington Wizards.
Logan Murdock, a Warriors reporter for The Mercury News, tweeted a photo of the team with Obama.
Looks like the Warriors paid a visit to President Barack Obama during their visit to Washington DC. pic.twitter.com/D5PSwjc3Gl
— Logan Murdock (@loganmmurdock) January 25, 2019
The team had met Obama before; they paid him a visit in February 2016 following their 2015 NBA championship.
The team’s point guard, Stephen Curry, and the former president, who are friendly with one another, coordinated the visit, as ESPN and others are reporting.
As for why the team did not visit with President Trump at the White House: They were not invited this year.
That’s because, following their 2017 NBA championship, they expressed little interest in attending. Players like Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and even head coach Steve Kerr all have spoken ill of the president.
Trump rescinded their invite and did not reach out with any new invites.
When asked about the situation with Trump in 2017, Curry said, “I don’t want to go. That’s kind of the nucleus of my belief. It’s not just me going to the White House. If it was, this would be a short conversation.”
He then took it further, politicizing the situation.
He said that by not going to the White House, he hoped that would “inspire some change when it comes to what we tolerate in this country.”
In response to this, President Trump tweeted last fall, “Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team. Stephen Curry is hesitating, therefore invitation is withdrawn!”
Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team.Stephen Curry is hesitating,therefore invitation is withdrawn!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017
After Thursday night’s game, the Warriors also briefly met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
The congresswoman showed Draymond Green a signed jersey of his that she bought at a charity auction to raise awareness for gun control; and she also took a picture with Curry.
Steph and Nancy pic.twitter.com/TplYpDMeCg
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 25, 2019
For more on the Warriors, check out the video below:
Tom Joyce is a freelance writer from the South Shore of Massachusetts. He covers sports, pop culture, and politics and has contributed to The Federalist, Newsday, and other outlets.
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