Steve Kerr Delivers ‘Night Night’ Message to Trump at DNC, Channeling Steph Curry
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr delivered a powerful and pointed message to former President Donald Trump during his speech at the Democratic National Convention on Monday night, echoing the famous words of his star player, Steph Curry: “Night night!”
Kerr, who earned fame playing alongside Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s, drew a parallel between the atmosphere at the DNC and the winning “vibes” of his championship years. He joked about the inevitable “shut up and whistle” tweets that would follow his speech but emphasized the importance of speaking out at such a crucial moment.
“The reason I said ‘yes‘ to speaking here tonight is that as a coach, a former player, a son, a father, even a grandfather, and as an American, I believe in a certain kind of leadership,” Kerr stated. Kerr outlined the qualities he values in a leader, emphasizing dignity, truthfulness, self-awareness, care for the people they lead, and the recognition that no one has all the answers. He stressed that some of the best solutions often come from teamwork and collaboration.
“In fact, some of the best answers often come from members of the team,” Kerr said, underscoring the importance of listening to others. As the audience erupted in applause, Kerr channeled his all-time great guard, delivering a memorable line. “In the words of the great Steph Curry, we can tell Donald Trump: ‘Night night!'” he declared, mimicking Curry’s famous gesture of holding an imaginary pillow to his head, signaling the end of a game.
Kerr’s speech quickly garnered praise on social media. Harry Litman, senior legal affairs columnist at the Los Angeles Times, called Kerr “eloquent, composed, charismatic” on X (formerly Twitter). Litman even speculated that Kerr would make a great Senator, acknowledging the challenges of political achievement in California.
MSNBC’s Katie Phang showed her support with a simple “lol love Steve Kerr,” while Polly Sigh enthusiastically responded, “I love this so much!” Former New York City federal prosecutor Preet Bharara joined in, writing, “Night night.” B.W. Carlin, founder of Bad Brain Digital Consulting, summed up the moment by saying, “Steve Kerr just hit Trump with the Steph Night Night celly—it might actually be over.”
Kerr’s speech, blending sports culture with political commentary, struck a chord with many, marking a significant moment at the convention and further solidifying his reputation as a coach unafraid to speak his mind on critical issues.