Clay Travis, a sports and political commentator, recently criticized Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, calling him a “coward” for his political stance and comments made at the Democratic National Convention (DNC).
Kerr, who spoke at the DNC and endorsed Kamala Harris as a presidential candidate, was accused by Travis of lacking true courage in his actions.
Travis argued that Kerr’s appearance at the DNC did not demonstrate courage. He pointed out that Kerr had already endorsed Harris during the 2024 Paris Olympics and reiterated his support in Chicago.
According to Travis, “He said that it took great courage for him to speak. Liar. It did not take any courage at all for Steve Kerr to show up at the Democrat National Convention and endorse Kamala.”
The primary focus of Travis’s criticism was Kerr’s reluctance to speak out against China’s human rights issues. Travis claimed that Kerr avoids addressing these matters and instead, compares the United States to China in a way that minimizes the differences between the two countries.
“What would take great courage is something that Steve Kerr is not willing to do. That’s actually call out China and support basic human rights around the world,” Travis stated.
Travis extended his criticism beyond Kerr, naming other NBA figures such as Gregg Popovich, Adam Silver, LeBron James, and Mark Cuban, whom he also labeled as “cowards” for their silence on China and their focus on criticizing American policies.
He blamed these individuals for what he sees as the NBA’s declining popularity with the American public. “They’re one of the reasons why the NBA has collapsed with much of the American public,” Travis asserted.
Travis contrasted Kerr’s actions with the philosophy of Michael Jordan, Kerr’s former teammate, who famously avoided political endorsements to maintain broad appeal. Travis cited Jordan’s well-known quote, “Republicans buy sneakers too,” suggesting that Kerr and others in the NBA have alienated a significant portion of their fan base by embracing what he describes as “far-left wing politics.”
Travis also highlighted the difference between the NBA’s approach and that of other sports organizations like the PGA Tour, WWE, and UFC, which, according to him, focus on expanding their reach without criticizing American values.
“If you make that decision, then I think it’s fine. You’re following the Michael Jordan example,” Travis noted, emphasizing that these organizations seek to grow their global audience without engaging in political controversies.
“That’s not what the NBA’s done. They’re hypocrites and they deserve to be called out for the hypocrisy,” he concluded.
