- The Washington Times - Thursday, January 24, 2019

With the Warriors not visiting for the White House for a second straight year, they visited a former president instead. 

Golden State players met with District resident Barack Obama on Thursday, prior to their 126-118 win against the Washington Wizards. Per the San Francisco Chronicle, the meeting featured only players and not coaches. 

Warriors forward Draymond Green posted the picture on his Instagram with the caption, “Whole gang with the 44th president of the United States today. 🙌🏽” 

After the game, players offered little details about how the meeting with Mr. Obama came to be, insisting privacy.

“It was amazing,” star Kevin Durant said.

The Warriors had their invitation to the White House rescinded last year after players Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant made critical remarks of President Trump. Before the cancelation, Durant and Curry said they had planned to skip the visit. 

In 2018, the Warriors spent their trip in the District touring the National Museum of African American History and Culture with students from Durant’s hometown of Seat Pleasant, Maryland.   

Teams are typically invited to the White House for winning a championship, though Trump canceled visits from the Warriors and the Philadelphia Eagles. The Warriors were not invited this year.

The Warriors previously met with Obama in 2016 when they visited the White House for winning the 2015 NBA title.

With his youngest daughter still in school, the former president and his family remained in Washington after his last term.

• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.

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