NewsNational

Actions

NBA champs skip White House stop, visits President Obama instead

Posted at 8:44 PM, Jan 25, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-25 21:48:11-05

For the second straight year, the NBA champion Golden State Warriors did not visit the White House to do a customary photo op with President Donald Trump.

Instead during the team's only visit to Washington this season, they dropped in on a former president.

Most of the roster, including stars Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson visited President Barack Obama on Thursday.

A photo of the Warriors' visit was posted on Instagram by forward Draymond Green.

A team official told ESPN that the visit with Obama was arranged by Curry, who has developed a friendship with Obama.

After the Warriors won the 2017 NBA title, several members of the Warriors said they would not accept an invitation to the White House, citing differences with Trump. Trump then said he would not invite the team to the White House.

It is unclear if there was even an invitation extended by Trump following the Warriors' 2018 title.

While Trump has yet to host the NBA champs in his two years in the White House, other major champions have continued visiting the White House. Earlier this month, the College Football Playoff champion Clemson Tigers were infamously served fast food during the team's White House visit. Trump reportedly paid for the meals out of his own pocket due to the government shutdown.