By all accounts, the NBA has never been in a better state. From a shift in the competitive hierarchy to unprecedented displays of individual greatness, there are countless storylines to follow, and the league is giving fans a lot to talk about, even during the offseason.
For former United States President Barack Obama, a longtime NBA fan, it’s an exciting place to be, and he’s been doing his best to keep up. This year, he tuned in to watch the NBA Finals, where he was secretly rooting for the Spurs to come out on top. Despite the loss, he likes what he sees from them and believes they have a bright future.
“I love this young San Antonio Spurs team,” Obama said. “Those guards: Castle, Harper, I love those two. And Harper almost won the game for them the way he was playing. And I think Wemby will end up being as good as we are projecting. I watched him at the All-Star game; it was the first time I’d seen him live, and I don’t remember somebody that big moving like that. That team is going to have such a great future.”
Victor Wembanyama is a true unicorn on the court, and it must be surreal to see him in person for the first time. Obama, like countless others, was in awe at his size and maturity, but even more so with the way he moved with such grace on the floor. The only comparable performance came from Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, who averaged 32.6 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game in the series. Obama says he earned his title as the hero of New York City.
“Brunson is incredible. It’s the toughness, endurance, and mental fortitude of that guy. You just felt like, ‘I’m going to keep coming. And I’m not doubting myself. And I’m not going to let my team doubt me,” said Barack. “For a second-round draft pick who was a champion, who was a winner, but I think nobody projected that. It’s a cliche, but that dude has the heart of a champion. And you can see it just by watching him with his dad at the end of the game and what that meant. All the work they must have put in over the years. All that commitment. Let me tell you, I know he’ll never have to pay for a meal again in New York. He’s the king of New York.”
The Knicks just won their first title in 53 years, and it’s proof that things don’t always go as expected in the NBA. Nevertheless, you have to credit Brunson and the Knicks for seizing the moment and taking care of business when the stakes were highest. For Barack, it was an amazing sight, but not quite the peak of his basketball experience.
As a Bulls fan born in 1961, Barack’s most memorable basketball moments came during the 90s, during the height of the Michael Jordan era (which resulted in six championships). Personal biases aside, Obama argues that the game was better back then because of the overall physicality and toughness.
“For me, the ‘90s were peak basketball because I was here in Chicago with MJ and the Bulls. But when you actually watch some of those old classics, they’re tough, and folks are physical,” said the former President. “There weren’t really flagrant fouls; you basically had to fend for yourself. Folks just weren’t shooting that many threes, so everything’s kind of packed in the paint. Now, the amount of wear and tear just seems a lot because even the big guys can shoot now.”
So while LeBron James may claim the GOAT title for himself, there’s still a whole generation out there who make the case for Jordan, a five-time MVP and 10x scoring leader. It’s a debate that will never be settled, but the answer may really depend on who you grew up watching. For Barack, who witnessed Jordan’s entire career, nothing can compare to what he saw at the United Center in the 90s, when the game was more honest, personal, and intense in almost every aspect.
What makes the former President different from others, though, is that he can appreciate both the old era and the new era of NBA basketball. As much as he valued the days of MJ’s Bulls dynasty, he’s all-in on Victor Wembanyama, and he believes the NBA is in a pretty good place, despite the inherent flaws.
