Steve Kerr, the head coach of the four-time NBA champion Golden State Warriors and the gold medal-winning Team USA men’s basketball team, spoke at the Democratic National Convention on Monday and took a cue from his star player’s signature celebration to take a jab at former President Donald Trump.
“In the words of the great Steph Curry, we can tell Donald Trump, ‘Night night!‘” Kerr said at the end of his speech about why he is supporting Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential race, clasping his hands together in the mock sleepy gesture made famous by the Warriors’ star point guard.
Curry, who recently helped the U.S. secure a gold medal over France by making four three-pointers in the last few minutes of the Olympics men’s basketball final, has been deploying his now-famous “Night night” gesture since the 2022 NBA playoffs. Curry pulled out the taunt in the final minutes of the game against France and even wore a sweatshirt emblazoned with the catchphrase in French after Team USA’s victory.
During his remarks on Monday, Kerr said he agreed to speak at the convention because the 2024 election is “too important” to stay quiet.
“I know speaking about politics these days comes with risks. I can see the ‘Shut up and whistle’ tweets being fired off right now. But I also knew, as soon as I was asked, that it was too important as an American citizen not to speak up in an election of this magnitude,” he said.
“I believe that leaders must display dignity,” he said. “I believe that leaders must tell the truth. I believe that leaders should be able to laugh at themselves. I believe leaders must care for and love the people they are leading. I believe leaders must possess knowledge but with full awareness that none of us has all the answers.”
“With Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, I see all of those qualities.”
He also referenced Walz’s days as a high school football coach.
“Coach to coach: That guy’s awesome.” Kerr said, before jokingly offering some analysis of Walz’s coaching history.
“Sorry, I just wanted you to feel how I feel every day of the NBA season,” he joked.
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He also made sure to pay tribute to his three championship-winning seasons with the Chicago crowd’s hometown team, the Bulls.
“It is so fun to be back here in the United Center,” he said. “A lot of good stuff has happened in this building, especially in the ’90s. You young people, Google ‘Michael Jordan’ and you can read all about it.”
“There was an amazing vibe in this building back in those days, and I feel that same winning spirit here tonight.”
Though it was his first appearance at the Democratic National Convention, Kerr is no stranger to being outspoken about politics. He’s been particularly vocal about gun violence, most notably tearing into senators after the 2022 massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
“It’s pathetic,” he said at a news conference. “I’ve had enough.”
Kerr has a personal connection to the issue: His father, Malcolm Kerr, was shot and killed by terrorists while serving as president of the American University of Beirut in 1984.