Former U.S. President Barack Obama was at the Intuit Dome on Sunday to attend the 2026 NBA All-Star Game. Obama, who was greeted with cheers from the crowd when introduced, had a brief chat with NBC Sports commentator Reggie Miller.
Obama responded when asked by the former Indiana Pacers star to share what he enjoyed most about 90s basketball:
“I always enjoyed watching us beat Indiana. Although I will say that nobody terrified me more than Reggie Miller with a 3-point shot at the end of a game. You did push off Michael (Jordan) on that one play, though.”
Barack Obama, a former Illinois State Senator who once taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School, was a diehard Bulls fan. Unsurprisingly, he was also one of Michael Jordan’s biggest supporters.
The only African-American to become U.S. president, Obama could not resist ribbing Reggie Miller for that controversial play in Game 4 of the 1998 Eastern Conference finals.
Miller, who admitted shoving Jordan during his Hall of Fame speech in 2012, drained the game-winning basket to tie the series at two games apiece. The Bulls would eventually win the series 4-3 before beating the Utah Jazz 4-2 for Jordan’s sixth championship.
Jordan owned a 32-17 regular-season record against Miller. The six-time NBA champ averaged 29.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game when facing the Pacers. Barack Obama had to let Reggie Miller know he enjoyed those wins.
Reggie Miller Trolls Back Barack Obama for Michael Jordan’s Alleged Shove in 1998 NBA Finals
Reggie Miller’s groan after hearing Barack Obama’s comments about his shove against Michael Jordan captured Miller’s sentiments. Still, the sharpshooting legend could not hold pushing back against the former president:
“(Jordan) pushed off in the Utah series, right? They didn’t call it, right?”
Obama could only laugh and answer “No” to both questions.
In Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, the Chicago Bulls trailed 86-85 against the Utah Jazz. After stealing the ball from Karl Malone on one end, Jordan seemed to get away with a push to hit a jumper over the flailing Bryon Russell.
Chicago’s defense held up in Utah’s next possession, allowing Jordan to record his second Grand Slam.
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