You don't have to be in the NBA to be good at basketball, as there are tons of great hoopers around the world who simply can't go pro. In another life, though, there's a chance that the former President of the United States, Barack Obama , would have found his way to the league.
Despite playing basketball in high school, Obama chose a life of politics over the sport, but he became notorious for playing pickup games during his time at The White House. And after seeing some of his highlights, Carmelo Anthony had quite an NBA comparison for Barack.
Carmelo's NBA comp for Barack
Whereas Obama opted not to try and carve out a basketball career for himself, Anthony did, and the result was a legendary stint in the league. Given how much time he's spent around the game, it's safe to say that Melo is a well-informed guy who can make a strong pick for this comparison.
Obama is slightly undersized on the court at just 6'2'', but his lefty shot surprised basketball fans everywhere. Anthony pointed out that his game is eerily reminiscent of Cameron Payne 's, and he believes he's the closest thing we have to Barack in the NBA.
"Cam Payne, he got the Cam Payne," the retired forward said on 7PM In Brooklyn. "Little lefty, a little shifty, little bit shooting, shooting from the side. Little touch, little floater…They got the same form."
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Melo hits the nail on the head with his Obama comparison
Payne bounced around the league as a spark plug scorer. Just like Barack, he is an undersized guard who has a unique left-handed jumpshot that confuses fans every time he pulls the trigger.
It's not hard to see why Anthony made this comparison. Both guys have similar play styles in the backcourt, and their left-handed shot makes them stand out in a crowd. Cam is certainly a better player, but Barack has an oddly similar game to him.
The same flaws in Obama's game have largely limited Payne during his time in the NBA. He's not a great passer, and his defensive woes make it challenging for him to earn heavy minutes on a consistent basis. Off the bench, though, he's a player that playoff contenders love to have.
A quick look at both of these guys will show that Melo's comparison is pretty spot on. So, if you ever wanted to know what Obama would look like if he made it to the NBA, you can go watch Payne play, and chances are it would have looked pretty similar to that.
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