Trump’s outburst enrages reigning NBA champions

PRESIDENT Donald Trump triggered a backlash from the US professional sports world yesterday after withdrawing a White House invitation to the NBA champion Golden State Warriors and condemning NFL players protesting the national anthem.

A day after Mr Trump had decried activist, mostly African American National Football League players as “sons of bitches” for kneeling or sitting during renditions of The StarSpangled Banner, the US leader turned his ire to basketball’s reigning champions and their top player Stephen Curry.

Curry said on Friday he would not attend a White House reception if his team was invited. Curry’s remarks followed similar comments last month by teammate Kevin Durant taking aim at Mr Trump’s response to racially charged violence in Charlottesville.

Mr Trump responded with a Twitter salvo.

“Going to the White House is considered a great honour for a championship team. Stephen Curry is hesitating, therefore invitation is withdrawn!” he wrote.

Mr Trump’s outburst drew a stinging response from across the NBA, with Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James among the first to weigh in.

“U bum @StephenCurry already said he ain’t going!” James wrote on Twitter. “So therefore ain’t no invite. Going to White House was a great honour until you showed up.”

Curry later spoke appreciatively of James’s words of support.

“That’s a pretty strong statement,” he said.

“I think it’s bold, it’s courageous.”