Team USA‘s Olympic basketball team faced some pressure before their sendoff later this month to Paris, as LeBron James and Co. hooped in front of Barack Obama in Las Vegas.
On Wednesday, the 44th US President sat front row at T-Mobile Arena to watch some of the best NBA players in action during the Americans’ 86-72 win. He proudly rose pre-game with his hand on his heart for the National Anthem.
Obama, 62, also posed for a selfie with NCAA champion and South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley.
‘If he isn’t the coolest man on earth… @BarackObama thank you for inspiration and leadership still,’ she wrote on X.
‘Now please let us borrow @MichelleObama for just 4 short years! First Gentleman is a good look for you!’
Barack Obama was in the house for Team USA’s exhibition game against Canada in Sin City
The 44th US President sported a relaxing fit courtside and great NCAA champ’ Dawn Staley
COOL AS ICE: Obama held a drink, unknown to be alcohol, at one point during the first half
LeBron James and Co. comfortably defeated their North American Rivals home soil, 86-72
Dawn Staley really wanted that Obama selfie 😂
(via @FOXSports)pic.twitter.com/mgx5kOLkLF
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 11, 2024
Obama, who sported a relaxed fit at the basketball game by wearing an untucked, white button-down shirt with light khakis and sneakers, was given a third-quarter ovation when he returned courtside from the halftime break.
His visit to the USA men’s basketball team went viral on social media for resembling an iconic Key & Peele Sketch from 2014. In the Comedy Central skit, Jordan Peele plays Obama after a presidential address. While greeted by a line of onlookers, Obama formally shakes hands with anxious white fans, while giving hugs and multi-layered handshakes to black members of the audience.
On Wednesday night, the real-life Obama appeared to embody the skit, as a clip on X shows the former president giving casually snappy handshakes, paired with hugs, to Anthony Edwards, Steph Curry, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis.
After greeting the players, Obama approached the coaching staff with firm and formal handshakes – as the Obama character did with none-black spectators in the skit.
Obama also posed for a selfie with Staley on the sideline as fans went wild over the moment
The latter group included Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra and Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.
Obama also sent a message to the players while proclaiming a new title for himself.
‘It is true I am the Hooper-in-Chief,’ he opened his remarks. ‘I just want to come here to help sent off the soon-to-be gold medal winners. We invented this game and I don’t like it when we don’t win.’
The US will face Australia in another exhibition game on Monday before starting its potential journey to win gold with a first group stage game against Serbia on July 28th.
The Americans will then face South Sudan in their second group game on July 31st before a third one against Puerto Rico on August 3rd.
News
VIDEO: Lip Readers Caught Jaylen Brown Bad-Mouthing Bronny James To WNBA Stars Kysre Gondrezick And Angel Reese At Summer League Game Without Knowing The Camera Was On Him
Jaylen Brown (Photo via @NBCSCeltics/X) Jaylen Brown was caught criticizing Bronny James while sitting courtside at Monday night’s Summer League game between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. Bronny,…
Jaylen Brown Had The Most Awkward Response After Camera Caught Him Bad-Mouthing Bronny James To Angel Reese & Kysre Gondrezick
Jaylen Brown and Bronny James (Photos via Getty Images) Jaylen Brown has responded following a video of him appearing to bad-mouth Bronny James going viral on Monday night. The NBA…
VIDEO: Angel Reese Stole The Show While Sitting Courtside In Her Very Short Shorts During NBA Summer League Game
Angel Reese (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) Angel Reese had a nice day off this week, and she spent it with a former teammate and Jaylen Brown of the Boston…
Dwyane Wade Got The Last Laugh After Cam’ron Walked Off His Own Show Because He Disapproved Of D-Wade’s New Business Venture
Cam’ron and Dwyane Wade (Photos via Come And Talk 2 Me/YouTube & Getty Images) NBA legend Dwyane Wade has reacted to rapper Cam’ron walking off the set of ‘Come And Talk…
Kobe Bryant’s Father, Joe Bryant, Has Tragically Died At 69 Years Old
Kobe Bryant and Joe Bryant (Image Source: X/SaycheeseDGTL) The basketball community is in mourning today following the news of Joe Bryant’s passing at the age of 69….
VIDEO: Social Media Destroyed Former NBA Star Sam Cassell For Getting Extra Handsy With Angel Reese At NBA Summer League Game
Sam Cassell and Angel Reese (Photo via Dior Don/X) Angel Reese was third-wheeling on Monday night, having attended an NBA Summer League fixture between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston…
End of content
No more pages to load