Former President Obama picks Phoenix Suns star for his NBA starting five

Barack Obama is a basketball savant who loves Kevin Durant's game.

The sport's been a large part of the former president's public identity since he was originally elected in 2008, the same year that the Phoenix Suns superstar Durant was an NBA rookie.

On Sunday, Obama released a video clip on X, formerly Twitter, that listed Durant among his NBA all-time starting lineup picks.

"I'm basketball fan Barack Obama," he said. "I'm going to talk about my favorite starting five, if I just put together a team where I would enjoy watching it, and I think they'd beat anybody."

Obama made the post to promote Netflix's documentary series "Starting Five," which was released Wednesday. The film is a behind-the-scenes look at the Los Angeles Lakers ' LeBron James, Sacramento Kings ' Domantas Sabonis, Miami Heat 's Jimmy Butler, Minnesota Timberwolves ' Anthony Edwards and the defending champion Boston Celtics ' Jayson Tatum throughout the 2023-24 season.

Obama selected Michael Jordan first at shooting guard. Obama added, "I'm from Chicago," where he first rose to power from a civil rights lawyer to an Illinois senator in 1997 during the Jordan-led Chicago Bulls ' second three-peat title run that ended in 1998.

Then Obama named his other selections: James at point forward, Golden State Warriors ' Stephen Curry because "we're in the 3-point era" and he's "the greatest shooter of all time," Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon for his defense, and Durant.

"Maybe the most efficient, effective scorer in the history of basketball," Obama said about Durant.

Obama is scheduled to appear in Tucson this week to campaign for Kamala Harris before the Nov. 5 election.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Former President Obama picks Phoenix Suns star for his NBA starting five