Steve Kerr wasn’t holding back before the Golden State Warriors took on the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night. During his pregame media session, Kerr, the Warriors’ head coach, addressed the recent political shift in the United States—Donald Trump had just won the 2024 presidential election.
Kerr, known for his outspoken views on social and political matters, acknowledged the outcome with a mix of diplomacy and subtle defiance.
“The American people have spoken, and we have to respect that,” Kerr said, acknowledging Trump’s victory. “I genuinely hope he succeeds in leading the country over the next four years. That’s what we all want—for America to thrive.”
But Kerr wasn’t entirely done.
As the conversation shifted to basketball, his characteristic wit made an appearance. When asked what he told his team ahead of the big matchup with the Celtics, Kerr couldn’t resist delivering a barbed quip.
“I just told them in our meeting this morning, ‘Let’s make America great again and beat the Celtics tonight,'” Kerr said, his grin leaving no doubt about the playful provocation aimed at Trump and his supporters.
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Kerr didn’t stop there. During the media availability, he also couldn’t help but throw some shade at Trump’s contentious claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election. With a raised eyebrow and a sarcastic tone, Kerr remarked, “I’m just glad this time all the votes were counted fairly and squarely. No missing ballots, no dead voters—just good, old-fashioned democracy at work.”
The atmosphere in TD Garden was charged that evening.
When Kerr was introduced pregame, the Boston crowd erupted in boos. Of course, the hostility wasn’t just political—many Celtics fans still hadn’t forgiven Kerr for his controversial decision to bench Boston’s beloved star, Jayson Tatum, during the Paris Olympics. Kerr took the reaction in stride, waving casually as the jeers rained down.
Despite the theatrics off the court, Kerr and the Warriors managed to stay focused when it mattered most. In a tight contest, the Warriors pulled out a 118-112 victory over the Celtics, silencing at least some of the boos that had echoed through the arena earlier. Golden State’s stars delivered in crunch time, a fitting response to Kerr’s pregame challenge.
Kerr, a four-time NBA champion as head coach and a figure who often speaks his mind, has been a vocal critic of Trump for years. Just earlier this year, Kerr had appeared at the Democratic National Convention, backing Kamala Harris and emphasizing the importance of empathy and unity. Trump, for his part, has never shied away from responding, trading barbs with Kerr in the past over social media and interviews.
With Trump back in the Oval Office, the ongoing clash between Kerr’s progressive activism and Trump’s conservative policies seems likely to continue.
Kerr’s jabs—sometimes petty, sometimes pointed—are clearly part of his persona, a mix of humor and resistance that plays well both in the locker room and with many fans.
For Kerr, Wednesday night wasn’t just about basketball. It was another opportunity to show that even in the sports world, voices can still be raised, opinions shared, and yes, the occasional jab thrown—especially when there’s a scoreboard to back it up.
