Cavs, Warriors Agree On One Thing: Skipping White House

By Sameer Rao Jun 06, 2018

The Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers will add another chapter to their long-standing rivalry when they face off in the third game of the NBA Finals tonight (June 6). Cavs leader LeBron James and Warriors star Stephen Curry may be opponents on the court, but they align on one point: they won’t celebrate a championship victory by visiting President Donald Trump‘s White House. 

The Associated Press reports today (June 6) that both players spoke in support of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles during separate press conferences yesterday (June 5). Trump rescinded an invite to the Super Bowl-winning Eagles for what he calls players’ lack of "honor" for members of the military. Trump has characterized players who demonstrate by kneeling during the national anthem—a statement against anti-Black police violence—as anti-American on multiple occassions. No starting Eagles player actually kneeled in protest during the 2017 NFL season.

“I’m not surprised," James told assembled journalists about Trump’s decision. "It’s typical of him. I know no matter who wins this series, no one wants the invite anyway. So it won’t be Golden State or Cleveland going.”

"I agree with ‘Bron," Curry said in his own presser. "[I’m] pretty sure, the way we handled things last year, [we’ll] kind of stay consistent with that." 

In 2017, Curry said he would not attend any planned White House celebration of the Warriors’ 2017 championship win, prompting Trump to rescind his invite. James has also previously criticized Trump’s policies and anthem position.