Steve Kerr on Donald Trump's Criticism: 'I Was the Shiny Object'

Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

One day after being called out by President Donald Trump for not commenting on the ongoing controversy between China and the NBA, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said the situation shocked him.

"It was really surprising. But mainly just because it was me. Then you stop and you think, this is just every day. This is just another day. I was the shiny object yesterday," he said. "There was another one today; there will be a new one tomorrow. And the circus will go on. It's just strange, but it happened."

When speaking with reporters on Monday, Kerr was unwilling to comment on the recent fallout between the NBA and China after Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted in support of Hong Kong protestors.

"Actually I don't," Kerr said when asked if he has thoughts on the controversy. "It's a really bizarre international story. A lot of us don't know what to make of it. It's something I'm reading about like everybody is, but I'm not gonna comment further."

Trump was asked during a press conference on Wednesday whether or not it was wrong to be putting pressure on the NBA following Morey's tweet. He called out Kerr for declining to comment.

"I watched this guy Steve Kerr and he was like a little boy who was so scared to be even answering the question. He couldn't answer the question. He was shaking, 'Oh, I don't know,'" Trump said. "He didn't know how to answer the question, and yet he'll talk about the United States very badly."

Kerr told the media on Thursday he plans to keep speaking out about issues that matter to him despite Trump's criticism and the backlash the NBA has faced in China.

"Generally, my feeling is the things that I'm going to comment on are the things that I feel comfortable speaking about, things I feel well versed about," he said, per ESPN. "I comment a lot about gun safety. It's a cause that's very near and dear to my heart. It's very crucial for our country for our future. We face mass shootings literally every day. So I'm involved with four or five different gun safety groups. It's my pet cause. So I'm going to comment on it. It's my right. That's why I love being an American and love my country. I'm able to channel my energy and my resources to places where I want it to go. I feel really comfortable with that. There are places where I don't feel as comfortable. This would be one of them."