Biden welcomes warriors and pledges support for California

President Joe Biden celebrated the Golden State Warriors’ NBA championship at the White House on Tuesday, voicing concern about Californians being hit by waves of destructive weather.

“We are all closely watching the hurricanes, floods, landslides across California, and our hearts go out to all the families of the affected communities,” he said.

Biden plans to visit the state on Thursday, and he approved of the state’s disaster relief.

The Warriors won four championships in eight years, but they didn’t visit the White House while Donald Trump was president. He pretended to publicly cancel their invitation after Stephen Curry, the team’s star, said he was not interested in the trip.

The Golden State Warriors are always welcome in this White House,” Biden said. He also honored Curry as “one of the great athletes of our time”.

He said the Warriors “reflect America” ​​with their style of play, showing “constant movement, personal freedom and individuality that comes together as one team, a team that plays with joy and strives to get better.”

Last year, the Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics in a six-game championship streak. This victory came after a difficult period for the team.

Although they won the championship in 2015, 2017 and 2018, their dreams of a dynasty were dashed when key players were injured. The Warriors have sunk to the bottom of the league.

“The last couple of years have been pretty tough,” Biden said. “Critics have wondered if this team has disappeared forever as a championship team.”

Biden has faced his share of doubters over the years, and he joked, “Guys, I know what it’s like.”

The first to speak at Tuesday’s ceremony was Vice President Kamala Harris, a California native and longtime Warriors fan.

“As a very proud daughter of Oakland, California, I am very proud that, as Vice President of the United States, I can say that Dub Nation is in the house,” she said.

Harris said she has a custom-made Warriors T-shirt that she keeps at home next to the treadmill, calling it “a symbol of courage, determination and teamwork.”

Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry and head coach Steve Kerr stopped at the White House press briefing to discuss some of the activities during their visit to the White House to celebrate their NBA championship. Curry thanked the Biden administration for bringing WNBA star Britney Greener home, and Kerr took part in a roundtable on gun violence in America.

On Tuesday, Harris, along with Biden, received a new jersey from Curry. She noted that he had number 1 – for the number 1 fan – and Biden had number 46, since he is the 46th president.

Curry said he hoped to see him “on the wall of the Oval Office”.

“Hopefully we can go back and see if he’s there,” he said.

Curry and coach Steve Kerr entered the White House briefing room ahead of the ceremony.

Curry thanked the administration for its work in bringing home Britney Griner, a women’s basketball star who was imprisoned in Russia on drug charges. He called her “a big part of our basketball family.”

“It means a lot to know that she is here and at home, safe with her family,” Curry said.

Kerr said he participated in a roundtable on gun violence with White House officials and two of his players, Moses Moody and Klay Thompson.

“We have learned a lot about what this administration is doing to help create a safer environment in our country,” Kerr said.

Biden signed the gun bill into law last year but vowed to keep working on tougher restrictions, including a ban on assault weapons.