LAS VEGAS — Vice President Kamala Harris chatted with the U.S. Olympic men's basketball team during a break in practice on Tuesday. She stepped onto the court at 4:23 p.m. ET and was escorted by head coach Steve Kerr to the stars.
Harris shook hands with Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry before speaking to the team at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' Mendenhall Arena.
“Our country is rooting for you. We are so proud of you,” she said. “Go to Paris and bring home the gold medal.”
She then shook hands with Devin Booker, LeBron James and Anthony Edwards before posing for photos with all of the players.
The U.S. team, loaded with future basketball Hall of Famers including Curry, James, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard, will play an exhibition match against Canada at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Wednesday night before beginning its quest for Olympic gold on July 28 against Serbia.
“It was awesome, having her support,” Durant said after practice. “She works here and has a very busy life, so it was an honor for her to come out and check us out. I'm glad she was here.”
When asked what exactly Coach Harris told his team, Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo said he kept it simple.
“'Win the Gold Medal.' It's simple, it's sweet, it's to the point,” he said. “And for her to come here and tell us that is a great moment. I'll be able to tell that to my children's children's children.”
Harris made a stop at UNLV ahead of the official launch of AANHPI Biden-Harris Voters, the campaign's newest coalition group for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander voters. She spoke to a crowd of more than 200 people at the event off the Las Vegas Strip.
Harris called the November election, in which she ran against former President Donald Trump, “the most consequential election of our lifetimes.”
“We've always known this election would be tough,” she said, “and the past few days have been a reminder that running for president of the United States is never easy. But one thing we know about President Joe Biden is that he's a fighter. And he's the first to say that when you get knocked down, you get up.”
Tuesday wasn't Harris' first time in the basketball world: The former California senator welcomed the Warriors to the White House when they play in the San Francisco Bay Area and has attended numerous Golden State games in recent years.
“She's from Oakland, so I've met her a number of times,” Warriors coach Kerr said.
“It's a great reminder of the fact that we're playing for our country,” Kerr said. “She's a Warriors fan. She loves our team. She loves basketball.”
Second gentleman Doug Emhoff is “unfortunately a Lakers fan,” Kerr added.
