Thanks to a fake social media account or two (or five), Golden State’s media day on Friday had plenty of non-basketball talking points to cover. But Kevin Durant’s burner Twitter(s) seem insignificant in comparison to Steph Curry’s comments on the Warriors’ forthcoming decision on whether or not to visit the White House if the team is invited.
Asked what declining a potential invite from President Donald Trump would mean, Curry told reporters, “That we don’t stand for basically what our president has — the things that he’s said and the things that he hasn’t said at the right times — that we won’t stand for it. By acting, and not going, hopefully that will inspire some change when it comes to what we tolerate in this country, what is accepted and what we turn a blind eye toward. … That’s kind of where I stand on that. I don’t think us going to the White House will miraculously make everything better, but this is my opportunity to voice that.”
It was a surprisingly firm stance from Curry, who until recently had built a reputation for staying out of the fray on hot-button topics. “I’m not on the extreme like some other guys,” Curry said just this month. “I’m not going to infuse myself into every conversation.”
But it wasn’t the first time Curry has come out against the current administration. In February, Curry, the face of Under Armour’s basketball division, called out the sports apparel brand’s CEO, Kevin Plank, for his initial support of President Trump. In response to Blank calling Trump an “asset” to the U.S., Curry told The Mercury News, “I agree with that description if you remove the ‘et.’”
While NFL owners run away from the Colin Kaepernick story, the NBA continues to solidify its position as the sports world leader on progressive issues. Curry might not be as outspoken as LeBron James, who has lent his voice to many national topics in recent years, including campaigning for Hillary Clinton. But it’s another positive sign to see one of the biggest superstars in the sport leading the charge for his team and others.
