LAS VEGAS — Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to the United States men’s Olympic basketball team during a break from practice Tuesday. Entering the court at 4:23 pm ET, she was escorted to the star-studded group by coach Steve Kerr.
Harris shook hands with Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry before speaking to the team at Mendenhall Arena at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
“Our nation is rooting for you. We are so proud of you,” she said. “Go to Paris and bring that gold.”
She then shook hands with Devin Booker, LeBron James and Anthony Edwards before taking a photo with the entire cast.
The U.S. team — filled with future Basketball Hall of Famers, including Curry, James, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard — faces Canada in an exhibition Wednesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The country begins its quest for an Olympic gold medal on July 28, against Serbia.
“That was cool. We got her support,” Durant said after practice. “She’s here working and her life is very busy, so for her to come here and check us out is an honor. I’m glad she made it through.”
Asked what exactly Harris told the team, Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo said it was brief.
“’Win the gold.’ Short, sweet and to the point,” he said. “Being able to have her here and talk to us is an incredible moment. I’ll be able to tell my children’s children about this.”
Harris stopped by UNLV ahead of the formal launch of the AANHPIs for Biden-Harris, the campaign’s latest coalition group for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander voters. She spoke to more than 200 people at the Las Vegas event.
Harris called the November elections against former President Donald Trump the “most important and consequential elections of our lifetime.”
“We always knew this election would be difficult,” she said. “And the last few days have been a reminder that running for president of the United States is never easy, but the one thing we know about our president, Joe Biden, is that he is a fighter. And he’s the first to say that when you get knocked down, you get back up.”
Tuesday wasn’t Harris’ first involvement in the world of basketball. Harris, a former senator from California, hosted the Warriors, who play in the San Francisco Bay Area, at the White House and has been to several Golden State games in recent years.
Kerr, who coaches the Warriors, said he has “met her many times since she is from Oakland.”
“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 and loves basketball.”
Second gentleman Doug Emhoff “is a Lakers fan, unfortunately,” Kerr added.
This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com read the full story
