Barack Obama praises the team-first approach of Warriors’ stars

At the Sloan Conference, the 44th president lauded Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant.

There are more than a few connections between president Barack Obama and the Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors visited Obama in the White House after winning the 2015 NBA championship. Stephen Curry and Obama have spent many hours on the golf links together. Golden State players have praised the former president, especially in comparison to the current one.

And, of course, Obama has a profound love of basketball.

On Friday, Obama spoke, and fielded questions, at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, which is an enormous event for anyone interested in sports statistics and analytics.

While reporters were not allowed to report on the event, the website Reason obtained a copy of the recording. And apparently the president had some pretty complimentary words about Golden State.

“People gave [Kevin] Durant a hard time for joining the Warriors,” Obama said. “But the truth is that it worked because both Kevin, and probably even more importantly, Steph [Curry] and Klay [Thompson] and Draymond [Green], they’re team-first guys.”

It’s certainly no surprise that the Warriors feature a cast of team-first stars and superstars. Still, it’s pretty cool to hear Obama say it.