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Kevin Durant says he won't visit the White House if the Warriors are invited

kevin durant
kevin durant

Wilfredo Lee/AP

The Golden State Warriors still haven't received a formal invite to the White House, but Kevin Durant is on the record as saying he won't attend if they receive one.

Durant told ESPN's Chris Haynes that he doesn't respect US President Donald Trump and won't visit the White House.

"I won't do that," said Durant. "I don't respect who's in office right now."

Durant told Haynes he believes his Warriors teammates would also not visit.

Durant said he believes Trump's rhetoric is dividing the country and stalling "progress" made by former president Barack Obama.

"He's definitely driving it. I feel ever since he's got into office, or since he ran for the presidency, our country has been so divided, and it's not a coincidence. When [Barack] Obama was in office, things were looking up. We had so much hope in our communities where I come from because we had a black president, and that was a first.

"So to see that and to be where we are now, it just felt like we took a turn for the worse, man. It all comes from who is in the administration. It comes from the top. Leadership trickles down to the rest of us. So, you know, if we have someone in office that doesn't care about all people, then we won't go anywhere as a country. In my opinion, until we get him out of here, we won't see any progress."

Durant also praised athletes like Colin Kaepernick and LeBron James for speaking up about social injustice.

The Warriors never made an official decision on visiting the White House, though several reports suggested they would not go if invited.

Steve Kerr had said he would want the Warriors to consider the positive ramifications of going to the White House, though one report shortly after the Finals said he had made up his mind on not going in November. Kerr has been a vocal critic of Trump's since the election.

Stephen Curry also said he would not like to attend a ceremony with Trump, but said he would want to talk it over with teammates first. Veteran forward Andre Iguodala reportedly said, "Hell nah" when asked if he would accept an invitation.

The Warriors visit Washington D.C. to play the Wizards on February 28. From the sounds of it, they won't be making a trip to the White House while they're there.

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