The Golden State Warriors visited President Joe Biden at the White House on Tuesday to celebrate the franchise’s sixth NBA championship.
The Warriors notably spurned then-President Donald Trump in 2017 and 2018 when the franchise won their fourth and fifth championships in back-to-back seasons.
“The last couple of years were pretty tough – struggled in 2020, missed the playoffs in 2021, and critics wondered if this was ‘gone for good’ as a championship team,” Biden said, according to USA Today. “Fellas, I know what it feels like.”
This was the Warriors’ first visit to the White House since 2015 when the franchise visited then-President Barack Obama.
“I always love coming to D.C. for a number of reasons,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Monday before playing the Washington Wizards in D.C. ”
I’ve got a lot of family here in town. It’s an amazing place to visit just seeing American history right before your eyes, and to be able to visit the White House is just an incredible honor. We’re thrilled.”
Biden praised the Warriors for “speaking out against racism, standing up for equality, encouraging people to vote, empowering children and their families to eat healthy and to learn and to play in safe places, rallying the country against gun violence, and Coach (Kerr), I want to thank you again.”
The Warriors are next in action Thursday night on the road against the Boston Celtics.
