Steve Kerr, the coach of the four-time NBA champion Golden State Warriors and the gold-medal winning U.S. men’s basketball team, took a cue from the star athlete’s iconic celebration and criticized former President Donald Trump as he addressed the Democratic National Convention on Monday.
At the end of his speech, Kerr spoke about why he is endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for president, folding his hands in the sleepy expression made famous by the Warriors star point guard and saying, “In the words of the great Steph Curry, we can say to Donald Trump, ‘Good night! ‘”
Curry, who recently helped the U.S. win gold over France by hitting four 3-pointers in the final minutes of the Olympic men’s basketball final, has been using his now-famous “good night” gesture since the 2022 NBA playoffs. Curry made the provocative gesture in the final minutes of the game against France, and also wore a sweatshirt with the catchphrase in French after Team USA’s victory.
In a speech Monday, Kerr said she agreed to address the convention because the 2024 election is “too important” to remain quiet.
“I know it’s dangerous to talk about politics these days. You see all these ‘Shut up and whistle’ tweets going around. But as soon as I was asked, I realized how important it is as an American citizen to not have a voice in an election of this magnitude,” he said.
“I believe that leaders should show dignity,” he said. “I believe that leaders should tell the truth. I believe that leaders should be able to laugh at themselves. I believe that leaders should care and love the people they lead. I believe that leaders should have knowledge, but also be fully aware that none of us have all the answers.”
“I see all those qualities in Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.”
He also mentioned Waltz’s time as a high school football coach.
“Coach vs. Coach: He’s awesome,” Kerr joked before offering an analysis of Waltz’s coaching career.
“I’m sorry. I just wanted you to feel what I feel every day during the NBA season,” he joked.
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He also paid tribute to the Chicago crowd for his three championship-winning seasons with his hometown Bulls.
“It’s great to be back at the United Center,” he said. “A lot of great things happened in this building, especially in the ’90s. Young people, if you Google ‘Michael Jordan,’ you can read all about him.”
“There was an incredible atmosphere in this building back then, and I feel that same triumphant spirit tonight.”
Although it was his first appearance at the Democratic National Convention, Kerr is no stranger to being outspoken about politics. He has been particularly vocal about gun violence, lashing out at senators in the wake of the 2022 massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
“It’s a miserable thing,” 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 in 1984 while serving as president of the American University of Beirut.
