"Let's make America great again and beat the Celtics": Steve Kerr gets candid in post-election pep talk to Warriors
The day after the US elections, the Golden State Warriors faced off against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night in a rematch of the 2022 NBA Finals, and during his pep talk to the team, Steve Kerr referenced Donald Trump’s victory.
When asked by reporters if he had spoken to the Warriors about the election, where Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in the presidential race, Kerr used Trump’s campaign slogan to inspire his players to beat the defending champions.
"I just told them, 'Let's make America great again and beat the Celtics,’” Kerr said (per Zack Cox).
Both Kerr and Warriors superstar Steph Curry had publicly endorsed Kamala Harris for president.
The AP had called the presidential race with Trump as the winner with 295 electoral votes as of Wednesday night, surpassing the necessary 270, while Harris had secured 226. The two were separated by nearly five million votes.
Steve Kerr, who not only serves as the Warriors' head coach but also led Team USA to a gold medal in the Paris Olympics, had delivered an impassioned speech at the Democratic National Convention.
“I believe that leaders must display dignity. I believe that leaders must tell the truth. I believe leaders must care for and love the people that they are leading,” he said.
“After the results are tallied [on Election Night], we can — in the words of the great Steph Curry — we can tell Donald Trump, 'Night, night.'”
Meanwhile, two days later, Curry appeared in a video at the DNC, proudly displaying his Olympic gold medal. He shared his support for Harris, speaking passionately about unity and hope.
“That unity on and off the court reminded us all that together we can do all things and continue to inspire the world,” he said. “That’s why I believe that Kamala as president could bring that unity back and continue to move our country forward.”
Steve Kerr reacts to Donald Trump’s victory
Despite his endorsement of Kamala Harris, which did not result in a victory, Steve Kerr expressed hope for Donald Trump to do well as president.
Before the game against the Celtics, following the election day when no NBA games were scheduled to encourage voting, Kerr said (per Zack Cox):
“I believe in democracy, and I think the American people have spoken and voted for Trump. I want him to do well the next four years. I want our country to do well.”
Harris has since conceded the election.