Via The Hill:

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr on Thursday slammed the National Football League’s new policy banning athletes from kneeling during the national anthem, calling it “idiotic” and “fake patriotism.”

“They’re basically trying to use the anthem as fake patriotism, nationalism, scaring people,” Kerr told reporters in Houston ahead of a playoff game. “It’s idiotic, but that’s how the NFL has handled their business. I’m proud to be in a league that understands patriotism in America is about free speech, peacefully protesting.

“I think our leadership in the NBA understands that the NFL players were kneeling to protest police brutality, to protest racial inequality,” he added. “They weren’t disrespecting the flag or the military. Our president decided to make it about that and the NFL followed suit and pandered to their fan base.

“People in high places are trying to divide us, divide loyalties and make this about the flag, as if the flag is something other than what it really is,” he said. “It’s a representation of what we’re about — diversity, peaceful protest, right to free speech. It’s really ironic, actually, what the NFL is doing.”