LAS VEGAS — Vice President Kamala Harris spoke with the U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team during a break from practice Tuesday. Arriving on the court at 4:23 p.m. ET, she was escorted to the star-studded group of players by head coach Steve Kerr.
Harris shook hands with Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry before speaking with the team at Mendenhall Arena at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
“Our nation is cheering you on. We are very proud of you,” she said. “Go to Paris and bring back that gold medal.”
She then shook hands with Devin Booker, LeBron James and Anthony Edwards before taking a photo with the entire roster.
Team USA, featuring future Basketball Hall of Famers including Curry, James, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard, will face Canada in an exhibition game Wednesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It will begin its quest for Olympic gold on July 28 against Serbia.
“It was cool. We had her support,” Durant said after practice. “She came here to work and her life is very busy, so it’s an honor for her to come see us. I’m glad she could come.”
Asked what exactly Harris told the team, Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo said it was brief.
“‘Winning gold.’ It’s short, sweet and to the point,” he said. “To be able to have him here and talk to us is a great moment. I’ll be able to tell my children’s children about it.”
Harris stopped by UNLV ahead of the official launch of AANHPI Voters for Biden-Harris, the campaign’s latest coalition group for Asian, Hawaiian and Pacific Islander American voters. She spoke to more than 200 people at the event off the Las Vegas Strip.
Harris called the November election against former President Donald Trump “the most important and consequential election of our lifetimes.”
“We always knew this election was going to be tough,” she said. “And these last few days have reminded us that running for president of the United States is never easy, but the one thing we know about our president, Joe Biden, is that he is a fighter. And he is the first to say that when you get knocked down, you get back up.”
Tuesday wasn’t Harris’ first involvement in the basketball world. Harris, a former California senator, has hosted the Warriors, who play in the San Francisco Bay Area, at the White House and attended several Golden State games in recent years.
Kerr, who coaches the Warriors, said he has “met her a few times since she’s from Oakland.”
“It’s a great reminder that we’re playing for our country,” Kerr said. “She’s a Warriors fan. She loves our team and loves basketball.”
The second gentleman, Doug Emhoff, “is a Lakers fan, unfortunately,” Kerr added.
News Source : www.nbcnews.com
Gn sports
