On Monday night, the Golden State Warriors won the NBA Championship in Game 5. The Cavaliers made a good effort, and LeBron is still King James, but they couldn’t do much about the combination of Kevin Durant and Steph Curry. Traditionally, after a big event like this – Super Bowl, NBA Finals, Stanley Cup – the winning team is invited to the White House to meet the president. The New England Patriots were invited this year, and many of them went to meet Emperor Bigly… although several players refused, and Tom Brady wimped out at the last minute. So, will the Warriors visit El Casa del Bigly? According to “reports,” no.
Rejected! The Golden State Warriors are reportedly not sticking to sports. According to CNBC’s Josh Brown, the NBA champs have unanimously declined an invitation to President Donald Trump’s White House, which should come as no surprise to those who have followed the left-leaning franchise the last few months.
In April, many Patriots players, including Trump supporter Tom Brady, skipped the team’s White House visit. New England was the first professional championship team to visit during Trump’s presidency, and the depleted attendance made national news. More than two dozen Patriots players did not attend the ceremony, which were among the most popular events during sports nut Barack Obama’s administration.
While the NFL tends to lean right, the NBA has mostly stood in opposition to Trump, going back to the 2016 campaign. Warriors coach Steve Kerr has been among the most vocal sports figures against the administration’s policies, along with San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich and Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy. Some NBA players also boycotted Trump hotel properties during the season, and Warriors star Steph Curry has also been critical of the President.
When Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank called Trump an “asset” earlier this year, UA athlete Curry said, “I agree with that description, if you remove the ‘et.'”
This was some of the first reporting on the whole “should/will the Warriors visit the White House?” ESPN later got a statement from the team, which was that the team/organization “will make those decisions when and if necessary. Today is all about celebrating our championship. We have not received an invitation to the White House, but will make those decisions when and if necessary.” Meaning, the Warriors are not going to formally decline a White House visit until they are formally invited. And it makes sense that they haven’t been invited yet too – Trump looked really nervous when the Clemson football team visited the White House several days ago. So many black people at the White House! Emperor Bigly can’t have that. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Trump didn’t even bother inviting the Warriors.
Photos courtesy of Getty.
The White House hasn’t even acknowledged the victory, which usually happens the day after.
Even more congratulations to the team!
Trump doesn’t like basketball so who knows if they’ll be invited. But yea they wouldn’t go the NBA actually encourages protest.
Not like the NFL which effectively ended Kaep’s career.
He won’t issue an invitation unless he can be assured he won’t be embarrassed by a rejection.
Trump won’t invite them. Cant take the chance of “losing.” He will invite the Pittsburgh Penguins though. No black people so less scary
Most players are white, but Penguins have a black player on team. I watch hockey all the time and see black players. Also, NHL Network has black anchors.
It’s getting better but it’s still a very white sport.
I saw the Penguins statement that they’d be happy to go. I don’t think the franchise should speak on behalf of individual players. If they are invited, whoever doesn’t want to go shouldn’t be forced to. It seems simple to me.
If the entire Warriors team decides they don’t want to go, so be it. Choice and the right to protest are still American values, aren’t they?
Many NHL players are also from other countries; more so than any of the other professional team sports
Only 25% of NHL players are American so there are far less politics involved when it comes to White House invitations. It’s not like the NFL or NBA where the majority of players are American.
Trump pretty much has to invite the team. But if even Curry alone refused to go, it would make a big, no, a huge statement. What could Trump do? Insult one of the most popular figures in our culture?
I know nothing about NBA (not American and don’t live in USA) but that man in the photos has one of the most beautiful faces I’ve seen on a person. He’s compelling to look at.
I was just looking at him myself. Agree!
My god he is GORGEOUS, isn’t he?
That is Steph Curry, he plays for Golden State.
To be fully appreciated in all his gorgeous glory, Steph Curry needs to be seen in motion. He just flows.
I can see myself becoming an NBA fan!
Steph Curry, and boy can he shoot.
I agree, what a gorgeous man!
beautiful on the inside, too.
I love Steph Curry and his cute family.
When they won the championship two years ago the real star was Riley. If you want a laugh look up the NBA interviews she crashed in postseason.
Riley is adorable. I loved that moment.
I love Steph. He’s gorgeous and deserves all the rings he can get.
I don’t follow sports. I was just thinking he is beautiful, whoever he is. Lol
Google Carpool Karaoke with James Corden and Steph Curry-and you will fall in love. He is adorable.
Someone on Twitter suggested they take their visit with HRC and then go for one of her famous hikes. I laughed at the time but, the team visiting her or Obama would be kind of cool.
that would be AWESOME.
such a slap in the face to babyfists…he’d go apoplectic on twitter.
And Pete Souza coming back to take the photos. Glorious.
I believe Pelosi invited them to the Capitol to meet with other Senators and Reps
That would be rude, actually. It’s time people started respecting whoever this country elected. Otherwise, you won’t like it when the shoe’s on the other foot.
I’m not even American and I know the shoe WAS on the other foot, for 8 years. And the person they were trashing was a great leader, unlike Babyfists.
I live in the Bay Area and I can tell you right now there’s no way they’re going. Steve Kerr and the entire team and front office have actual principals and aren’t going to swallow those because it’s ‘expected.’ Why condone or legitimize a racist, sexist buffoon? They won’t.
I live in the Bay Area and I can tell you right now there’s no way they’re going. Steve Kerr and the entire team and front office have actual principles and aren’t going to swallow those because it’s ‘expected.’ Why condone or legitimize a racist, sexist buffoon? They won’t.
So do I, and agree with you 100%!
Cue the deplorables screaming about California and libtard disrespect for the POTUS. I can’t anymore.
I wish every team would boycott the White House.
I’ve been having fun with my BF–a devout Patriots-hater–about the fact that Brady didn’t go to the WH but his boy Peyton Manning was golfing with Trump just a week or so ago. I love it because my BF went on and on about how Brady is a Trumpster and has said many times how he thinks Peyton Manning is such a good dude. I mean, maybe Manning is a good guy but he’s definitely a Trumpster, which is a shame.
I think all athletes should avoid Trump because the dude is poison and likely not great for their reputation. And yes, if you are golfing with Trump at this stage of his presidency, it’s nothing short of a show of public support.
Manning is a sexual assaulting ass. So NOT a good guy and I’m a die hard Broncos fan. He has political aspirations, so maybe his past will help him in this administration – it’s probably a requirement
https://www.si.com/nfl/2016/02/13/peyton-manning-tennessee-sexual-assault-allegations-Jamie-Naughright
WOW thanks for the link…never heard that before. He really does do a good job of keeping his public image on lock-down huh?
I was wondering why that golf outing Manning took didn’t get more press.
I just hope my Eli has more sense… 🙁
Cavs fan here. Congrats to the Warriors. If they are invited to the White House and they decline the invite, it would really ease my pain.
The Warriors are based in California so they should visit their awesome senator Kamala Harris.
My thoughts exactly.
The whole point of arts and sports was that they were supposed to be above politics and about civility. When you make everything about politics, a civil society will collapse..
Whaaaat? So much of art is about engaging with and at times subverting politics. And sport especially in America has always had a political element, segregated leagues didn’t happen in a vacuum. The players are human and allowed to express their views, they are not obligated to do something that goes against those values. Not to mention if you want civility Trump is the last person to bring it. It’d be good if you actually had an idea of what you were talking about.