Biden Hosts the Warriors: 'Kay [Klay],' a 'State [Stat] Line' and the Xi Jinping Story Again (January 17, 2023)

President Joe Biden welcomed the NBA champion Golden State Warriors to the White House, and the official transcript had to fix the name of one of the team’s stars. “And one of the best executives in sports, Bob Myers, who rebuilt and reimagined a team around the Big 3: Steph, Draymond, and Kay [Klay; White House correction],” Biden said on Jan. 17, 2023, according to the transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

He meant Klay Thompson. Minutes later, introducing Steph Curry, Biden needed another fix. “And we all know the state [stat; White House correction] line of championships and MVPs,” he said [1].

“We see the highlight reels—one of the sharpest shooters to ever play the game,” Biden said of Curry [1].

The video above shows the East Room ceremony and the presentation of jerseys to Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Quotes are from the American Presidency Project’s transcripts and pool reports [1][2][3].

”Fellas, I Know What It Feels Like”

Biden opened with a joke about the players behind him. “I’m tempted to say, as honored as I am to be here speaking, I’m not sure I wouldn’t be even more excited if I was standing back there,” he said [1].

He compared the team’s comeback to his own. “You struggled in 2020, missed the playoffs in ‘21, and critics wondered if this team was gone for good as a championship team. But, fellas, I know what it feels like. [ Laughter ] I’ve been there,” Biden said. “But, as my dad used to say: ‘Joe, get up. Just get up, and never give up.’” [1]

He also brought up his visit to Ebenezer Baptist Church two days earlier. “I had the great honor of being the first sitting President to deliver a sermon at Sunday service that—at his cherished Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta,” Biden said of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s church [1].

”You Add Up to 72 Feet?”

Biden turned to the players standing behind him. “Well, you guys are something incredible. I mean, you add up to 72 feet? [ Laughter ] You’re amazing. I swear to God, you’re incredible,” he said [1].

He joked about coach Steve Kerr’s championship rings. “And by the way, he’s running out of fingers. [ Laughter ] You all see the size of those rings? He has to walk around like this,” Biden said. The transcript notes: “At this point, the President stepped forward with his arms slung low.” [1]

“No more droughts. [ Laughter ] I mean in California,” Biden said [1].

”The Greatest Speaker in Our History”

Biden singled out a guest in the crowd. “Nancy Pelosi—where are you, Nance? Nancy? The greatest Speaker in our history, and this is her home court right here,” he said [1].

The pool noted the moment. “POTUS acknowledged Nancy Pelosi from the stage and moments later her husband Paul. Paul Pelosi stood up and gave a salute to POTUS,” the pooler wrote [2].

”On the Tibetan Plateau”

Biden worked in a story he had told many times before. “I was asked by Xi Jinping on the Tibetan Plateau some years ago. He said, ‘Can you define America for me?’ This is the God’s truth. And I said: ‘Yes, in one word: possibilities. Possibilities,’” Biden said [1].

He closed by comparing himself to Curry. “And besides that, he—the only thing he and I really have in common: We both married way above our station. [ Laughter ] Way above our station,” Biden said [1].

”No Questions, Karine?”

Before the ceremony, Curry and Kerr dropped by the press briefing. Kerr said he had just joined “a roundtable on gun violence and gun safety with some senior White House staffers, along with Klay Thompson and Moses Moody.” [3]

Curry thanked the President for “all their hard work and diligence on getting Brittney Griner home, who is a big part of our basketball family.” [3]

Then the two left. “No questions, Karine? (Laughter.)” a reporter called out. “It’s up to them. (Laughs.)” Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. “Bring Steph back,” another reporter said [3].

”Number 46 and a Number 49”

At the ceremony, Curry presented the gifts. “We brought some gifts for you. We have two jerseys—a number 46 and a number 49—that we would love to have you a part of Dub Nation forever,” Curry said [1].

“And maybe find it maybe on the wall in the Oval Office or in your office,” he said [1].

Curry also had a joke ready about the number 46. “In 1946, we won our first championship. So we—‘46 has a nice ring with him—[ laughter ]—with you as the 46th President,” he said [1].

Biden had tied the team to the national motto. “Our national motto is E pluribus unum —out of many, one. Well, you put the Dub Nation in that advice [ Laughter ] Strength in numbers,” he said [1].

By the Numbers

4: NBA titles in the last eight seasons, per Biden [1].
72 feet: Biden’s estimate of the players’ combined height [1].
3:19 p.m.: when Biden entered with Curry, per the pool [2].
60 years: since President Kennedy hosted the Boston Celtics, the first NBA champions to visit, Biden said [1].

What Happened Next

The Xi stories kept coming. For how many times Biden told his story about traveling 17,000 miles with Xi, see HYGO News’ page on the official record. For Biden saying he and a congressman “both married way up” at the White House Diwali celebration, see the page on Oct. 24, 2022.