It’s no secret that former United States President Barack Obama is a huge basketball and NBA fan. He’s spoken about his love of the game for a long time now.
It’s also been well publicized that President Obama adapted the White House tennis court into a full basketball court during his tenure as President. This basketball court would host many games during President Obama’s eight years in office.
These games often featured celebrities and even current and former NBA stars. There was even a secret pickup game that featured some legendary NBA figures.
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, And Magic Johnson Play Pickup Ball With President Obama
President Obama loved to play basketball so much that a pickup game of ball was what the President chose to do to celebrate his 49th birthday.
The year was 2010 and President Obama organized an incredible pickup game. Of course, the President played, and he had his old high school friends play, as well.
This wasn’t all. The remaining players were household names. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Shane Battier played in the game.
But this still wasn’t all. Alonzo Mourning and Magic Johnson both came out of retirement and played in the game. Also, at the game was Kobe Bryant, who watched since he was injured.
The legendary Bill Russell also attended and watched the game. The stars were out at the White House on that day, and President Obama once spoke about this secret pickup game.
“For my 49th birthday, we had an All-Star Game that was just kind of for us,” President Obama said. “LeBron came. Dwyane Wade, and Derrick Rose; all these amazing NBA players. Each team had three NBA players and two amateurs. All my high school friends came over. We had this round-robin tournament, and we had Wounded Warriors who we invited to watch; we signed autographs and gave shoes away afterward. One of the perks of being president is, you can invite people to the White House and they show up.”
President Obama went on to explain how it felt going up against the best players in the NBA:
“Having LeBron suddenly guard you – this mountain of a human – you never feel so small and weak,” Obama laughed. “You just pass the ball, or hand it to him and say here, I’m not worthy.”
This pickup game of basketball at the White House sounds amazing. Not only for the people playing, but having two iconic players watching, Kobe Bryant and Bill Russell, sounds like something out of a movie.
Too bad there isn’t any footage of the game. It would be amazing to see the former President in action against the NBA’s best from the past to the present day.
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