On the night of Tuesday November 4 to Wednesday November 5, the NBA and the whole world will stop to follow the American presidential elections. In the duel between Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump, certain US athletes and American sports personalities have taken sides for several weeks. Here are those who have publicly supported Kamala Harris.
Note: this list is not exhaustive, it brings together athletes (current and former) with a certain level of notoriety, allowing them – potentially – to influence and impact the voting choice of certain voters.
Current and former athletes
NBA :
- LeBron James (superstar des Los Angeles Lakers)
- Stephen Curry (superstar des Golden State Warriors)
- Steve Kerr (former NBA player and Golden State Warriors coach)
- Gregg Popovich (legendary San Antonio Spurs coach)
- Doc Rivers (former NBA player and Milwaukee Bucks coach)
- Magic Johnson (NBA legend)
- Chris Paul (NBA star and San Antonio Spurs point guard)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (NBA legend)
- Matt Barnes (former NBA player)
- Draymond Green (star NBA des Golden State Warriors)
- Jaren Jackson Jr. (star NBA des Memphis Grizzlies)
- George Karl (former great NBA coach)
- Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks player, former All-Star)
- C.J. McCollum (New Orleans Pelicans player, president of the NBA players' union)
- Norm Nixon (former Lakers All-Star)
- Metta Sandiford-Artest (former NBA player)
- Lenny Wilkens (former great NBA player and coach)
Considered the most progressive professional league among the four major American sports (basketball, American football, baseball, hockey), the NBA has been supported for a good decade by its leaders LeBron James and Stephen Curry, who have both publicly supported Kamala Harris. The King indicated on his X account that the “choice is obvious” between the Democratic candidate and Donald Trump, while the Warriors superstar made a video appearance during the Democratic Convention in Chicago a few weeks ago.
NBA star Steph Curry endorsed Kamala Harris with a video message played at the DNC.
Curry, wearing his USA basketball team shirt and gold medal, said that he supports Harris and encouraged Democrats to vote in November.
“The Oval Office suits her well. So in the words of… pic.twitter.com/1VmBKdT7aO
— The Hill (@thehill) https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1826796790743547978?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Stephen Curry also showed his support for Kamala Harris during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Furthermore, the Democratic candidate visited Team USA during the training camp for the Olympics in Las Vegas, taking a nice photo with the entire US national team.
Other big names in the NBA have also publicly supported Kamala Harris. Former players, current players or coaches, voices were raised: we think in particular of Gregg Popovich, who said all the bad things he thought of Donald Trump a week ago. Stephen Curry's coach at the Warriors – Steve Kerr – actually gave a speech at the Democratic Convention in Chicago, releasing a “Night Night” in the direction of the Trump camp. Legends Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are also in the Harris camp, as is Spurs star point guard and teammate of Victor Wembanyama, Chris Paul.
NFL :
- Robert Brazile (Hall of Famer NFL)
- Mel Blount (Hall of Famer NFL)
- Emmitt Smith (Hall of Famer NFL)
- Kellen Winslow (Hall of Famer NFL)
- Other Tippett (Hall of Famer NFL)
- Marv Levy (Hall of Famer NFL)
- Alan Page (Hall of Famer NFL)
- Drew Pearson (Hall of Famer NFL)
- Kenny Houston (Hall of Famer NFL)
- Jan Stenerud (Hall of Famer NFL)
- Calvin Johnson (Hall of Famer NFL)
- Willie Roaf (Hall of Famer NFL)
- Mike Haynes (Hall of Famer NFL)
- Elvin Bethea (Hall of Famer NFL)
- Ron Mix (Hall of Famer NFL)
- Jerome Bettis (Hall of Famer NFL)
- Joe Greene (Hall of Famer NFL)
The NFL, a professional American football league, remains by far the most powerful in the United States. And under the leadership (among others) of Magic Johnson, who helped launch the “Athletes for Harris” campaign, Kamala Harris received the support of around fifteen NFL Hall of Famers. Among them, former Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith, former wide receiver Calvin “Megatron” Johnson, legendary tight end Kellen Winslow and many others.
Checking in on Athletes for Harris… ???? pic.twitter.com/KuqPZ5i3pO
— Official Team Kamala (@TeamKamala) https://twitter.com/TeamKamala/status/1851788952581063148?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
MLB :
- Adrián González (former MLB player)
NHL :
WNBA / basket féminin :
- Dawn Staley (WNBA legend and coach of South Carolina, NCAA champion)
- Candace Parker (WNBA legend)
- Le Seattle Storm (WNBA team)
- Sue Bird (WNBA legend)
- Cameron Brink (young WNBA star)
- Caitlin Clark (new WNBA superstar)
- Brittney Grinner (star WNBA)
- Cheryl Reeve (coach the Team USA)
- Breanna Stewart (WNBA superstar, 2024 WNBA champion)
- Diana Taurasi (superstar WNBA)
- Courtney Vandersloot (WNBA All-Star, 2024 WNBA Champion)
- Gabby Williams (WNBA player)
- A’ja Wilson (superstar WNBA, MVP 2024)
Among the major subjects of debate which characterize the 2024 US presidential election, there is women's rights. It is therefore not very surprising to see athletes from women's sport/basketball speaking out publicly, the vast majority in favor of Kamala Harris.
Some of the biggest stars of the WNBA have given their support to Kamala in a more or less direct way: Caitlin Clark, for example, liked Taylor Swift's famous Instagram post in which the latter announced that she would vote for Harris, a post liked by 12 million people. A'ja Wilson (WNBA MVP) and Breanna Stewart (WNBA Champion) both came forward this summer at the 2024 Paris Olympics to openly support Kamala Harris. Diana Taurasi and Team USA coach Cheryl Reeve did the same. The Seattle Storm (WNBA) franchise posted a message on its X account to support Harris, while the famous Sue Bird – shareholder of the franchise – donated $8,500 to the Harris camp this summer.
Finally, the Franco-American Gabby Williams – who played at Storm before going to Fenerbahçe – wore a T-shirt a few weeks ago featuring a Kamala Harris quote that went viral.
Others :
- Billie Jean King (legend of women's tennis)
- Ali Warrior (soccer player)
- Megan Rapinoe (former women's football star)
- Abby Wambach (former women's football star)
- Alexandra Truwit (Paralympic swimmer)
- Ilona Maher (rugby player)
- Alex Honnold (climber)
- Coco Gauff (young female tennis star)
- Martina Navratilova (legend of women's tennis)
- Andy Roddick (former tennis star)
- Carl Lewis (athletics legend)
- Kevin Nash (wrestling legend)
- Mick Foley (wrestling legend)
What about franchise owners?
Through their fortune and influence, certain franchise owners (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL) do not hesitate to get involved in the race for the White House, often by financially supporting the campaign of one of the two candidates. Here are the owners who directly supported Kamala Harris:
- Mark Cubanminority owner of the Dallas Mavericks (NBA)
Supported Kamala Harris by calling Donald Trump a “threat” to the American economy and a man “with fascist tendencies”.
- Herb Simonowner of the Indiana Pacers / Indiana Fever (NBA/WNBA)
Provided $100,000 in financial support to Kamala Harris' political action committee.
- David Blitzerco-owner of the Philadelphia Sixers (NBA)
Provided $31,600 in financial support to Kamala Harris' political action committee.
- Ted Leonsisowner of the Washington Wizards / Mystics / Capitals (NBA/WNBA/NHL)
Provided $50,000 in financial support to Kamala Harris' political action committee.
- Arthur Blankowner of the Atlanta Falcons (NFL)
Provided $1.3 million in financial support to Kamala Harris' political action committee.
????BREAKING: Multi-billionaire, #Falcons owner Arthur Blank announces his support for Kamala Harris to be the next president.
“Kamala Harris is the right leader at a critical time in our country who can bring people together and help business and communities thrive.” pic.twitter.com/VuLnCgADws
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) https://twitter.com/_MLFootball/status/1852110237513453709?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
- Art Rooneyowner of the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL)
Provided $56,600 in financial support to the Joe Biden/Kamala Harris camp.
- Zygi Wilfowner of the Minnesota Vikings (NFL)
Provided $31,600 in financial support to the Joe Biden/Kamala Harris camp.
- Laura Rickettsco-owner of the Chicago Cubs (MLB)
Provided $900,000 in financial support to the Kamala Harris Victory Fund.
- Jim Pohladowner of the Minnesota Twins (MLB)
Provided $375,000 in financial support to Kamala Harris.
- Jim Craneowner of the Houston Astros (MLB)
Provided $31,600 in financial support to the Joe Biden/Kamala Harris camp.
- David Bondermanco-owner of the Seattle Kraken and minority owner of the Boston Celtics (NHL/NBA)
Provided $250,000 in financial support to Kamala Harris.
- Samantha Hollowayco-owner of the Seattle Kraken (NHL)
Provided $25,000 in financial support to Kamala Harris.
Note: donations and other financial support that may have been made to the Democratic Party as a whole (during the primaries for example) were not taken into account, given that they did not necessarily benefit Kamala Harris directly .
Nevertheless, we can mention the contribution of the Glazer family (owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL, $3.2 million donated to the Democratic Party over the last four years). Also note that Adam Silver, NBA commissioner, donated $10,000 to Kamala Harris' political action committee.
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Sources texte : Forbes, Front Office Sports
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