Harris pays visit to Team USA basketball practice: ‘Bring back the gold’

Vice President Kamala Harris paid a surprise visit to Team USA basketball just two weeks out from the Olympics.

While on the campaign trail in Las Vegas, Harris stopped by Team USA’s basketball practice as the team prepared for the Paris Olympics. Team USA is flooded with NBA stars such as Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Devin Booker.

“We are so proud of you,” Harris said. “Beat Canada, and bring back that gold.

Tuesday’s practice was the team’s last until its exhibition game against Canada on Wednesday. Harris watched the end of practice and took pictures with players and coaches. Harris and Curry had a brief one-on-one conversation.

She also spoke with Steve Kerr, head coach of Team USA and head coach of the Golden State Warriors. Kerr said Harris’s surprise drop-in was “a great reminder of the fact that we’re playing for our country and Vice President Harris was great.”

“She told the guys how much she admired them and how they really embodied excellence and the fact that we are going over there to try to win a gold medal for our country,” Kerr said. “She said that it’s a demonstration of our patriotic feeling of being part of something special for our country. And I think the guys really listened to every word.”

“Pretty special moment for the entire group,” said Erik Spoelstra, U.S. assistant coach. “She just mentioned that we represent our country and everybody is going to be watching and rooting for us. It’s a big responsibility.”

During the visit, Kerr joked about the first gentleman’s allegiance to the Los Angeles Lakers while Harris supports the Golden State Warriors.

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“I’ve met her many times, given that she’s from Oakland, and we’ve been fortunate enough to visit the White House when she was there, but also on a few trips to California,” Kerr said. “I’ve met her several times, and she’s a Warriors fan. She loves our team. She loves basketball. Yeah, the first gentleman is a Lakers fan, unfortunately, but we will live with that.”

Team USA won its fourth consecutive gold medal in basketball at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. It is set to be the favorite to win gold again in Paris this year.