5 NBA players who have dabbled in politics feat. Bill Bradley
The NBA is full of diversity, with beliefs and cultures varying with each player. NBA players today are vocal about many social views, especially political views. These players are public in their support of certain political parties and beliefs, with some finding careers in politics after the NBA.
With the 2024 Presidential race heating up, players around the NBA are touching on their respective beliefs, with players and coaches alike campaigning for their party of choice.
Among these players is Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, whose speech at the Democratic National Convention went viral for the humorous closing.
Kerr isn't the only player to be vocal about politics as many former NBA players found careers in politics in their lives after basketball. Here are five NBA players who have dabbled in politics.
5 NBA players who have dabbled in politics
#1) Bill Bradley
Bill Bradley shifted his focus to politics after 10 years in the NBA after a Hall of Fame basketball career.
Bill Bradley served three terms as a Democratic United States senator. In 2000, Bradley ran for the Democratic Presidential nomination, losing the race to Vice President Al Gore.
Bradley ran for a seat in the United States Senate in 1978 after retiring from the NBA in 1977 at 33 years old.
In his 10 years in the NBA, Bradley was a two-time NBA champion and won a gold medal with Team USA at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
#2) Royce White
Another NBA player to do a bit more than 'dabble' in politics, Royce White won the Republican nomination for the United States Senate on Aug. 14 and will face off against Senator Amy Klobuchar for the Senate seat.
Royce White played for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the NBA G League, the Sacramento Kings in the NBA, the Reno Bighorns (now the Stockton Kings) in the G League and the London Lightning in the NBL.
White was selected by the Houston Rockets with the No. 16 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, ahead of players like Khris Middleton and Draymond Green.
In the NBL, White won league MVP in 2017, two championships in 2017 and 2018 and earned All-NBL Canada First-Team honors in 2017 and 2018.
#3) Dave Bing
From 1966-1976, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better NBA point guard than Dave Bing. The NBA Hall of Famer earned seven NBA All-Star appearances in 12 seasons, averaging 20.3 points and 6.0 assists for his career.
By 2008, Dave Bing started his career in politics,. He announced his plans to run for Mayor of Detroit, where Bing played for nine seasons.
Bing served as the city's mayor from 2009 to 2014 as a member of the Democratic Party. He was also presented with the National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award in 2009.
#4) Kevin Johnson
Kevin Johnson was one of the best NBA point guards of the early '90s, averaging 17.9 points, 9.1 assists and 3.3 rebounds in his 12-year NBA career from 1987-2000.
Johnson was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the No. 7 pick in the 1987 NBA Draft before he was traded to the Phoenix Suns, where he broke out as an NBA All-Star and spent the rest of his career.
Eight years after retiring from the NBA, Johnson ran for mayor of Sacramento under the Democratic Party. Johnson served as the city's mayor from 2008 to 2016, having been re-elected in 2012.
In 2012, Johnson was also elected to be vice-president of the United States Conference of Mayors.
#5) Terry Dehere
Entering the NBA in 1993, Terry Dehere was one of the best Big East prospects of all time. He won the Big East Player of the Year in 1993 and earned the first-team All-Big East and second-team All-American honors after a historic career that saw him set the Big East Conference record for career points.
In the 1993 NBA Draft, Dehere was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers with the No. 13 pick, ahead of players like Sam Cassell and Nick Van Exel.
After six years in the NBA, Dehere retired from basketball and was later elected as a member of the Jersey City Board of Education in 2007 and became vice president of the board in 2009.