Doc Rivers Mocks Donald Trump Before Loss
An NBA coach took a little jab at President Donald Trump before his game on Saturday night.
Stepping into an empty press conference room prior to Game 2 between the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets, Doc Rivers couldn’t help himself.
“It looks like a Trump rally in here,” he observed.
Clippers coach Doc Rivers on the empty press conference room that featured himself, a Clippers spokesperson, a few NBA staffers, myself, a photographer and empty chairs: “It looks like a Trump rally in here.” I disagree. We were all wearing masks and being socially distant.
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) September 5, 2020
Rivers has made it no secret that he is not a particularly big fan of the current President. In fact, he has consistently been one of the more vocal voices within the NBA bubble speaking of the need to get people to the voting booths to oust President Trump from his post in November.
As the son of a police officer and one of the league’s more respected voices, Rivers’ opinions are particularly influential among the NBA community.
Unfortunately, his Clippers lost their Game 2 showdown against the Denver Nuggets 110-101 on Saturday night. The series is now tied at 1-1.
Rivers was not the only NBA head coach to take aim at President Trump recently.
Former Miami Heat, Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy also bashed him for giving former Notre Dame head football coach Lou Holtz the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the highest honor a civilian can receive from the government.
“We’ve analyzed it very closely, President Trump said. “We’ve looked at all those recommendations. We’ve looked at Lou’s life and his career and what he’s done for charity, and the football is obvious. He was a great coach, but what he’s done beyond even coaching, so Lou will be getting the Presidential Medal of Freedom.”
Just prior to being awarded the honor, Holtz appeared at the Republican National Convention to support President Trump and disparage former Vice President Joe Biden.
“Lou Holtz receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom is absurd. Is the criteria how vocal you are in support of Trump?” Van Gundy tweeted out.
“And these coaches who have made their careers on the backs of young African American men supporting a racist president is shameful.”
Lou Holtz receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom is absurd. Is the criteria how vocal you are in support of Trump? And these coaches who have made their careers on the backs of young African American men supporting a racist president is shameful. https://t.co/1584OeO7n0
— Stan Van Gundy (@realStanVG) September 5, 2020
There is no love lost between large swaths of the sports world and President Trump. If he ultimately wins re-election in November, it will be fascinating to see how the relationship between all parties involved proceeds for the next four years.
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Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.
Stan Van Gundy? who is that?
What’s the NBA?
A used to be organization that strayed from its purpose and became involved in politics. As a consequence they went out of business.
The NBA will be an after thought