Steve Kerr, Stephen Curry and other members of the U.S. team were practicing in Abu Dhabi in preparation for the Paris Olympics when they received news of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
“It’s a very proud time to go to the Olympics with the American flag on my chest and represent my country,” Kerr said (h/t ESPN.com). “I’ve talked to our athletes about how important it is to look your best as human beings in order to represent our country with respect and dignity. It makes me want to do that even more because it’s really embarrassing for us to sit here and think about what’s happened and what’s going on in our country.”
The attack happened at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, with the former president apparently shot near the ear, although his campaign later said he was OK.
One spectator was killed, as was the gunman who is believed to have fired from a hill outside the venue, and two other spectators were seriously injured.
The FBI identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. A motive was not immediately clear.
“It’s just a horrible, sad scene with two people dead,” Carr said. “…It’s a demoralizing day for our country and another example of not only political division but gun culture. A 20-year-old with an AR-15 is trying to shoot a former president. It’s all hard to comprehend and it’s scary to think what’s to come given the problems that already exist in this country. So this is a terrible day.”
“We’re glad that Trump wasn’t attacked, but it’s extremely demoralizing in every sense of the word.”
About five minutes into Trump’s speech, shots were heard and he appeared to drop to the floor, clutching his right ear, before being surrounded by Secret Service agents.
Police helped Trump to his feet, surrounded him and hurried him off the stage to a waiting vehicle, where Trump, bleeding from the side of his head and ear, repeatedly pumped his fist in the air and waved as the crowd cheered.
In a post on Truth Social hours later, Trump said the bullet had “entered the top of my right ear.”
“It’s obviously a very sad time across the board,” Curry said. “With all the discussion about the election and the political situation in our country, this has happened. [evokes] There are many feelings about things that we as a people need to correct.
“Of course, the first thing is gun control, because someone could carry out such an attack. But more than that, [see] “Positivity and hope. I know that sounds corny, but it’s true. This is when our country is at its best, and this just adds another stain to what’s going on. It’s just so sad, that’s the only word I can use.”
The U.S. team will remain in the Middle East this week before playing Olympic warm-up matches.
“Obviously, what we do is a small thing, playing basketball, but we want to do our best to give people a little insight into what our country is all about,” Kerr said. “And when you hear stuff like this, it’s very disheartening and very sad.”
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