Steve Kerr’s pregame press conference before the Warriors played the Dallas Mavericks in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals was a powerful, adamant statement on the mass shooting at an elementary school in Texas earlier on Tuesday.
Gun violence is an issue that is personal to Kerr. He has been consistently outspoken about gun control, but his remarks on Tuesday were especially poignant, blasting politicians who he said have refused to pass sensible legislation.
Kerr’s words caught the attention of his players, including Steph Curry, who gave Kerr a handshake after his coach’s press conference.
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“I can't even imagine the pain for coach to say what he said, and every word he said was powerful, was meaningful,” Curry said. “I accept that challenge of trying to figure out a way to use my voice and platform to hopefully make change, and you can tell what it meant to him, come up in front of y'all and use this microphone to say what he said.”
Curry said he appreciated Kerr’s leadership, and that it was hard to stay focused on a basketball game.
“I got kids,” Curry said, “Send them to school every day. Drop them off. And you feel for the parents that are going through what they are going through.”
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Curry’s mind understandably wandered “from time to time” on Tuesday, especially during the moment of silence before the game in honor of the victims.
“In life, there's ways to balance,” Curry said “It's hard. You come in, the perspective is, you know, ‘This is what we do.’ ”
Related: Angry Kerr rips politicians after Texas elementary school shooting
A coach can set the tone for their players, and it’s clear that Kerr’s heartfelt comments were appreciated around the locker room and provided them with a sense of perspective.
“It's tough, but it reminds you how blessed we are to be able to do what we do,” Curry said. “We can get lost in a basketball game for two and a half hours, even though it is difficult, and know what's going on in our country.”
