Barack Obama took time on Friday to offer his congratulations to the Golden State Warriors for winning their fourth championship over the past eight seasons.
With four championships in eight years, the @Warriors leave no doubt of their place as one of the NBA’s greatest dynasties. Congrats to Finals MVP Steph, Draymond, Klay, Coach Kerr and the rest of Dub Nation for such sustained excellence.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 17, 2022
During Obama’s eight years as president, the Warriors won one of those four titles. It came in 2015. The following year, the Warriors held a 3-1 advantage over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals before watching the Cavs make a historic comeback to win their first championship.
After Obama left office in January of 2017, the Warriors won a title that year as well as in 2018. They also reached the 2019 NBA Finals before falling in six games to the Toronto Raptors.
During the following two seasons, injuries to Warriors guard Klay Thompson as well as the departure of forward Kevin Durant kept the Warriors away from the Finals.
However, thanks in part to a healthy roster this season, the Warriors navigated their way through the postseason. That journey culminated on Thursday night when they clinched the 2022 title in six games over the Boston Celtics.
During Obama’s time as president, he enthusiastically supported the NBA and welcomed championship teams to the White House. That included the Warriors in 2015.
However, when Donald Trump took office, those trips came to an end. Trump was especially annoyed in 2020 when teams took social justice stands.
With Joe Biden now in office, a return visit to the White House seems more likely for the Warriors. Given the relationship between Biden and Obama, it wouldn’t come as a total surprise if an invitation were offered to the former president to be part of a potential White House visit from the Warriors.
