Steph, Warriors explain significance of White House visit originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
WASHINGTON, DC — To understand what the visit to the White House means to the Warriors, you have to start with the previous holiday — Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
On back-to-back days, those occasions energized the Warriors about what they could achieve with their platform.
“I think it definitely amplifies it,” Warriors star Stephen Curry said Tuesday as he stood outside the White House in front of a crowd of reporters on a scale not normally seen until the playoffs.
“We already know what Dr. King means and his legacy. We work on that holiday every year. It’s another time of reflection… how to amplify his message in our daily lives.”
One of those messages is equality. In sports terms, you could call it fair play.
That’s what Stephen did for Howard University, an HBCU in Washington, DC. In 2019, Curry made a six-year financial commitment to help Howard’s golf team reach Division I.
In April 2022, the golf team celebrated its first MEAC championship. During halftime of Howard’s basketball game on MLK Day, Curry applauds the golf team for the championship ring.
Stephen Curry via Instagram
“Adding that to the White House visit,” Stephen continued, “when we came back from 2016, we had some of the same conversations we had when President Obama was in office. We talked specifically about gun control because [coach Steve] Kerr background. I have to talk about my foundation. I think it’s an understanding that sports are important; basketball is important, it brings people together. We all have platforms and are lucky that people listen to what we have to say.
“It’s a matter of continuing the conversation that needs to be had.”
During a championship celebration in the East Wing of the White House on Tuesday, President Joe Biden pointed to the problems facing the Warriors.
“Stand up for equality. Encourage people to vote. Give children and their families safe places to eat healthy, learn and play. Unite the nation against gun violence,” Biden said, turning specifically to Kerr.
“Coach, I want to thank you again.”
Prior to the ceremony, Kerr, Klay Thompson and Moses Moody held a roundtable discussion with White House staff on gun control measures.
As the Warriors go through their day, Draymond Green thinks about his childhood.
“As a kid growing up in Saginaw, Michigan, you only dreamed of seeing the White House.”
Draymond has now visited twice, following a team visit in 2016 during the Obama administration.
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Draymond noted that Barack Obama was the first black president and that Vice President Kamala Harris was the first woman of color to serve as vice president.
“I think the growth in this country is really good,” Draymond said. “We’ve got a long way to go. But I also think sometimes we forget to celebrate what we’ve achieved. Those are two [people] You can look and say 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 30 years ago, this would never have happened. “
“We’re moving forward, but we need to keep making progress.”
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