WASHINGTON — NBA MVP Stephen Curry and the reigning champion Golden State Warriors visited the White House Thursday, as they were honored for their win in last season’s finals over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
President Barack Obama remarked that the Warriors and he have followed very similar paths, offering some humor as he compared their path to that of his own administration.
“For those of you who don’t know, the Warriors started this season without Coach (Steve) Kerr, who was recovering from back surgery. So Luke Walton stepped up and led the team to a ridiculous 39-4 record. Unfortunately, the NBA won’t let Luke count those wins as his own. Which, man, that doesn’t seem fair. You defied the cynics, you accomplished big things, you racked up a great record, and you don’t get enough credit. I can’t imagine how that feels.”
In attendance, along with friends and family of the team, was NBA great Jerry West who’s an executive with Golden State. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who represents the 12th district of California, was also present.
Obama also recognized the Warriors’ efforts off the court.
“In their commitment to the My Brother’s Keeper initiative, promoting mentoring in the Bay Area and nationwide, the team even met with some students in the White House mentoring program before the event. The Warriors also support the city’s Oakland Promise effort to help more kids make it through college.”
The event wrapped up with the team presenting Obama with a Warriors jersey with the number 44 on it, representing Obama as the 44th President of the United States
The White House has invited many sports teams over the years, as far back as the President Andrew Johnson administration in the mid to late 1860s, when he would entertain baseball teams.
The Warriors defeated the Washington Wizards Wednesday night, for their 8th straight victory and league leading 45th win against only four losses. Golden State is on pace to break the all-time single-season wins mark of 72 set by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, Obama’s favorite team. Warriors Coach Steve Kerr was a member of that Bulls team.
Curry scored 51 points in the win in Washington, going 13-14 for 36 points in the first half and tying former Wizards Gilbert Arena and Chicago’s Michael Jordan’s Verizon Center record of 51 overall points.
Curry joins teammates Klay Thompson and Draymond Green as NBA All-Stars. John Wall was selected as the lone Wizard, as an alternate for the Eastern Conference.
