In August 2011, Joakim Noah had a unique opportunity to meet then-President Barack Obama. Even more exciting was that the retired big man got to hit the court with the 44th leader of the United States.
In a recent appearance on the 'All the Smoke Podcast,' Noah discussed a memorable moment from this experience—one in which he felt compelled to assert himself after being trash-talked by none other than Obama.
"I remember he (Obama) was talking about my jump shot a lot, and it was like the guys were just laughing a little bit too hard. And I was like, 'Yo, like, all right.' So, he got the ball, and I remember I ran; I closed out on him, like, 'I'm not letting you shoot; you're not getting nothing.' He just needed to feel that a little bit. So that was my moment with Barack Obama on the basketball court," recounted Noah.
Chicago connection
Noah spent nine of his thirteen NBA seasons in Chicago—a city that Obama also had strong connections to. After graduating from Columbia in 1983, Obama moved to Chicago two years later. There, he built his political career and met his future wife, Michelle. During his time in the 'Windy City,' Barack also became a big fan of the local NBA team. This connection was highlighted when the then-president celebrated his 50th birthday on August 4 that year.
During that period, the Bulls had a "big year" and were "at the height of our thing," Jo recalled. Their success was largely due to the duo of himself and reigning MVP Derrick Rose. Both were invited to Obama's birthday party, with Noah noting that the invitation came in an astounding way, stating, "It was a different kind of email…it was very presidential."
Related: "I can still shoot, but I can't grip the ball completely" - MJ explained the effect of a finger injury that influenced his decision to retire in 1998
No hard feelings
Alongside him, his mom, and D-Rose, several members of the then-president's cabinet were present—all from Chicago, as the two-time All-Star noted. This group was likely present when the Noah vs. Obama on-court showdown occurred.
The trash-talk that followed was probably nothing new to Jo. The former 6'11" player's unusual shooting style often drew mockery when he awkwardly attempted jump shots or even free throws. However, Noah's true strengths simply lay in other areas, particularly his exceptional defense. This was highlighted by the 39-year-old winning the DPOY award in 2014.
In the end, despite the mild on-court teasing, the New York native called the birthday celebration "really special." Furthermore, it didn't dampen his respect for Obama, who himself has some skills playing ball .
"You get to have a real moment with the president of the United States as a human. The guy represents America; he also represents the islands of Hawaii, he represents Africa. He is also in this deal with the NBA Africa, so it was a pretty surreal moment," remarked Noah.
Related: “Hey Ray, why don’t you teach this kid how to shoot?” — when Barack Obama trash-talked Rajon Rondo into becoming a better shooter
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