VP candidate Kamala Harris left an ‘imprint’ while visiting Clippers, Doc Rivers says

Asked Wednesday what he thought about Joe Biden’s pick for running mate, Doc Rivers gushed, “It’s just beautiful.”

On Tuesday, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee answered the most highly anticipated question of his campaign when he announced that California Sen. Kamala Harris will join him on the ticket. If the Biden-Harris candidacy is successful, she would become the first woman, the first Black American and the first South Asian American to serve as the nation’s vice president.

“We’ve had our first Black president in President Obama,” said the Clippers coach, who a few weeks ago spoke about his relationship with the late civil rights icon John Lewis. “And now we have a chance to have not only a Black vice president, but a woman as well. Those are two things that we can cross.”

Furthermore, Rivers said Thursday, the day after his team clinched the No. 2 seed with the best regular-season finish in franchise history, he gained a good sense of who Harris is when she visited with the Clippers a few seasons ago.

He recalled that she spent time with his team talking about a range of topics, and focusing especially on education.

“I would say that the gist of the Kamala Harris conversation with our team was more about education,” Rivers said Thursday in a Zoom video conference before Thursday’s practice. “K-3 you learn to read, and 3-whatever else you read to learn, and how quickly you can fall behind. We had a very deep conversation on where we could help and so she left a big imprint on that team.”

Chris Paul, the president of the NBA Players Association, was on that squad, Rivers recalled.

Now Oklahoma City’s point guard, Paul offered his congratulations to Harris on Wednesday during a session with reporters. He also made note of the historic nature of her candidacy, which aligns with the Aug. 18, 1920 ratification of the 19th amendment, granting women the right to vote in the United States.

“A huge shout out to Kamala Harris,” Paul said. “Unbelievable, in that it’s the centennial, the 100-year anniversary of the 19th amendment. So, to have a Black woman running as a vice president is a huge deal and, yes, it’s a big day.”

Rivers has long encouraged his players to vote, and also to think and act on their political convictions.

“I think it’s our job to educate not only ourselves, but our players,” said Rivers, who also railed Thursday against the growing controversy regarding the U.S. Postal system and voting by mail after President Donald Trump declared Thursday that he opposes additional funding for the mail service, acknowledging that his position would starve the agency of money Democrats contend it needs to process an anticipated surge in mail-in ballots on account of the coronavirus.

“I don’t even call them team-builders, I just think … teaching our guys what they may not want to learn and may not want to get involved in can change.”

Marcus Morris Sr., who joined the Clippers via trade in early February, and who is wearing “Education Reform” on the back of his jersey in the bubble, said Rivers’ message strikes a chord.

“Doc is African-American male, so the relationship is a little different … him actually being in these situations before,” Morris said. “He’s been in different riots, he sat down and told us about the story about the Rodney King thing and situations he’s been in, so definitely relatable.

“Doc is unique coach, he’s been around a while … and the knowledge that he’s giving us and the way he stands in front of everything and speaks his piece, it’s definitely great for us, as African-American males.”

The Clippers will play their final seeding game Friday before the playoffs without Patrick Beverley (strained left calf), Landry Shamet (sprained left foot) — and Montrezl Harrell.

Earlier this week, Rivers expressed hope that Harrell would be available to play this week, but on the Clippers’ injury report released Thursday afternoon, the team continued to list him as out under the “self-isolating” distinction for players who are away from the team or quarantining.

Harrell returned to the bubble early this week after leaving on July 17, and taking time, with his team’s support, to mourn the death of his grandmother.

The Clippers, 4-3 in Orlando without the Sixth Man of the Year candidate, will face Dallas in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, which could begin as soon as Monday.