Back in 2017, Steve Kerr couldn't help but open up about his raw and unfiltered thoughts regarding President Donald Trump banning refugees and visitors from seven predominantly-Muslim countries from entering the U.S.
The longtime Golden State Warriors head coach didn't shy away from expressing his disapproval of Trump's decision. For Steve, whose father, Malcolm, was assassinated by an Islamic jihadi while serving as the president of the American University of Beirut in 1984, Donald was making a big mistake in the way he wanted to protect the U.S.
Kerr believed that instead of maintaining peace and order within the country, Trump could be starting something completely opposite.
"I would just say that as someone whose family member was a victim of terrorism, having lost my father, if we're trying to combat terrorism by banishing people from coming to this country, by really going against the principles of what our country is about and creating fear, it's the wrong way of going about it," Kerr said after a Warriors game at the time via ESPN. "If anything, we could be breeding anger and terror. So I'm completely against what's happening."
Trump's immigration directive saw some green-card holders being denied permission to travel back to the United States. Sensing that this could affect some international players, the NBA took the initiative to reach out to the U.S. State Department to learn how it could help players who could be affected by the POTUS' order and prevent other uncertainties.
On the other hand, Coach Kerr ultimately concluded that, regardless of the specifics of the ban, Trump's call was still a "horrible idea." Admittedly, Steve was worried about the potential long-term effects of the president's decision, especially on the safety and welfare of the American people.
"I think it's shocking. It's a horrible idea," Kerr added. "I feel for all the people that are affected. Families are being torn apart, and I worry in the big picture what this means to the security of the world. It's going about it completely opposite. You want to solve terror, you want to solve crime, this is not the way to do it."
Related: When an ex-NBA player admitted he cheated on his childhood sweetheart 341 times
Even though it was clear that Kerr felt Trump's immigration order hit close to home, he managed to stay focused on his job. Steve remained present and carried on despite being reminded of the murder of his father.
That year, Kerr led the Warriors to another exceptional run, finishing the season with a league-best 67-15 record. Golden State even reclaimed its throne that season, beating its archrival, the Cleveland Cavaliers , in five games to secure a fifth NBA title for the franchise.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
