The 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama has long been known to be a big lover of the NBA. Given the nickname of 'The First Fan', Obama has never shied away from voicing his love and support for the game of basketball.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, and thus, unsurprisingly, a staunch fan of the Chicago Bulls, Obama has even gone on record in recent months to say that the likes of the Golden State Warriors, and the San Antonio Spurs team before that, have been some of his favourite sides to watch.
Before being succeeded as President by Donald Trump, Obama played host to many of the NBA's championship teams from when he took office in January 2009 to when he left at the beginning of 2017. Title-winning sides from the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs and the Golden State Warriors all made the trip to the White House during Obama's administration.
Given his interest in the NBA, Obama was asked to name his all-time starting five in NBA history, and while he opted to go with some of the greatest players of all-time, there were some pretty notable omissions too.
Stephen Curry
Point Guard
One of the greatest scorers in NBA history, Stephen Curry's place in NBA folklore is already secure despite him still playing right now. The leader of the Golden State Warriors and cornerstone behind which the franchise enjoyed their dynasty during the 2010s, Curry's insane three-point shooting is unmatched by anyone from the past, the present and perhaps even in the future too.
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His level of talent and ability has revolutionised the game as we know it, and you can only imagine that more and more guards will look to emulate Curry as they come into the league over the next few years. A two-time scoring champ, Curry also has the highest free throw scoring percentage in history, and, unsurprisingly, is the leader in three-point makes, having surpassed the likes of Reggie Miller and Ray Allen. While he might be 37 now, Curry will still be hoping to add to his haul of NBA titles and get closer to the likes of Michael Jordan.
|Stephen Curry's Career Stats|
|Stat|Number|
|Points per game|24.7|
|Assists per game|6.4|
|Rebounds per game|4.7|
|Steals per game|1.5|
|Blocks per game|0.3|
|Career awards|2x MVP, 1x NBA Finals MVP, 11x All-Star, 4x All-NBA First Team, 5x All-NBA Second Team, 2x All-NBA Third Team, 1x ROTY|
|NBA titles|4|
|---|
I want a little bit of shooting and a little bit of flair so I'm going to put my friend, Steph Curry, into the mix because we're in the three point era and he is the greatest shooter of all time, bar none.
Michael Jordan
Shooting Guard
The greatest basketball player of all-time in many fans' eyes, Michael Jordan continues to dominate the GOAT debate even to this day. A champion and winner in the truest sense, Jordan's run with the Chicago Bulls, particularly in the 1990s, is legendary. Six titles to his name and five MVP awards have only cemented Jordan's place as the best to have ever done it.
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The fact the Bulls icon also stepped up his game on the defensive end by winning the Defensive Player of the Year award and being named to the All-Defensive teams multiple times only adds to his greatness. Obama has also previously gone on record to say that he considers Jordan as the greatest player in NBA history, though he did give some props to LeBron James at the same time too.
Michael Jordan's Career Stats
Stat
Points per game
Assists per game
Rebounds per game
Steals per game
Blocks per game
Career awards
NBA titles
If you're just looking at, let's say, a ten-year slice, I would say that MJ's peak was higher than LeBron's. I have to give credit to LeBron's longevity, and so they are both great in slightly different ways, and they are both champions.
LeBron James
Small Forward
Now onto the man a lot of NBA fans consider the only other real contender for the title of the best basketball player in history, LeBron James continues to defy Father Time by playing at the highest level even into his 40s. Still remaining one of the best players in the league right now, James' longevity and consistent greatness are a testament to the kind of work he has put into maintaining his body even to this day.
A title winner with three different teams (Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers), there have been rumours circulating that James could be set for a trade away as he looks to challenge for the crown one last time before heading off into the sunset. If and where that will be though, remains to be seen. Whatever happens in the time that he still has in the league, James' place among the Mount Rushmore of basketball is well and truly secure.
LeBron James' Career Stats
Stat
Points per game
Assists per game
Rebounds per game
Steals per game
Blocks per game
Career awards
NBA titles
I'd put LeBron at point forward. A bunch of times he'd be bringing up the ball and he'd be distributing. He'd basically be doing some of the stuff that he did recently in the Olympics and that is a pretty good approximation of what Magic Johnson could do.
Kevin Durant
Power Forward
Given Kevin Durant's size and slender build, it's incredible to think he has established himself as one of the greatest players in NBA history. A true three-level scorer who can get his shot off from almost anywhere on the court, Durant's pull-up jumper is smooth like butter and pretty much bang on the money even when heavily contested.
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Whether it's from the mid-range, the post or from beyond-the-arc, Durant has shown he can be an extremely efficient scorer no matter the circumstances. An MVP and two-time Finals MVP award winner cement his place among the elites, but if he can lead his new franchise, the Houston Rockets to an NBA title, then Durant may well catapult himself up in the conversation of who's the GOAT.
|Kevin Durant's Career Stats|
|Stat|Number|
|Points per game|27.2|
|Assists per game|4.4|
|Rebounds per game|7.0|
|Steals per game|1.0|
|Blocks per game|1.1|
|Career awards|1x MVP, 2x Finals MVP, 15x All-Star, 6x All-NBA First Team, 5x All-NBA Second Team, 1x ROTY|
|NBA titles|2|
|---|
I think, especially given today's game, I've got to go with Kevin Durant. KD. Who may be the most efficient effective scorer in the history of basketball.
Hakeem Olajuwon
Center
Has there been a more complete and more all-round center in NBA history than Hakeem Olajuwon? The man with the iconic 'Dream Shake' dominated the league from his position in the 1990s when there were bona-fide Hall of Famers all over, including the likes of Shaquille O'Neal, Patrick Ewing and David Robinson.
His footwork and touch from the post made him a nightmare to guard, while his ability to understand opposition plays and read the game defensively were second-to-none. A genuine two-way superstar, Olajuwon was not only named the MVP while a Rocket, but he would also pick up two Defensive Player of the Year awards too.
Hakeem Olajuwon's Career Stats
Stat
Points per game
Assists per game
Rebounds per game
Steals per game
Blocks per game
Career awards
NBA titles
At center, I'm going to put Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon whose game I think translates to today's game. He was such an amazing athlete, an anchor on defense. He's going to give you everything you need out of the center position.