Biden welcomes the Warriors, pledges support for California

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Bidencelebrated the NBA champion Golden State Warriors at the WhiteHouse on Tuesday as he expressed concern for Californians who havesuffered through waves of destructive weather.

“We’re all closely monitoring the storms, the floods, thelandslides all across California, and our heart is with all of thefamilies of the communities that are hurting,” he said.

Biden visited the state Thursday and has approved disasterassistance.

The Warriors have won four championships in eight years, butthey didn’t visit the White House while Donald Trump was president.He made a show of publicly disinviting them after Stephen Curry,the team’s star, said he wasn’t interested in going.

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

He said the Warriors’ “reflect America” with their style ofplay, showcasing “constant motion, with individual freedom andpersonality that comes together as one team, a team that plays withjoy, with drive to be their best.”

The Warriors beat the Boston Celtics in a six-game championshipseries last year, a victory that came after a difficult stretch forthe team.

Although they won the championship in 2015, 2017 and 2018, theirdreams of a dynasty fell apart when key players were injured. TheWarriors fell to the bottom of the league.

“The last couple of years were pretty tough,” Biden said.“Critics wondered if this team was gone for good as a championshipteam.”

Biden has faced his share of doubters over the years, and hejoked, “Fellas, I know what it feels like.”

Vice President Kamala Harris, a California native and longtimeWarriors fan, spoke first at Tuesday’s ceremony.

“As a very proud daughter of Oakland, California, it gives meimmense personal pride as the vice president of the United Statesto say, Dub Nation is in the house,” she said.

Harris said she has a custom Warriors jersey that she keeps byher treadmill at home, calling it “a symbol of grit, determinationand teamwork.”

Along with Biden, Harris got a new jersey from Curry on Tuesday.It had the number 1 — for No. 1 fan, she remarked — and Biden gotone with 46, since he’s the 46th president.

Curry said he hopes to see it “on the wall of the OvalOffice”

“Hopefully we can come back and check if it’s up there,” hesaid.

Curry and coach Steve Kerr stopped by the White House briefingroom before the ceremony.

Curry thanked the administration for its work to bring homeBrittney Griner, the women’s basketball star who had been jailed inRussia on drug charges. He called her a “big part of our basketballfamily.”

“It means a lot to know that she’s here and home safe with herfamily,” Curry said.

Kerr said he participated in a roundtable on gun violence withWhite House officials and two of his players, Moses Moody and KlayThompson.

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

Biden signed gun legislation last year, but he’s pledged to keepworking toward tighter restrictions, including an assault weaponsban.