Barack Obama in the building for Game 2 of the #NBAFinals (via @Raptors)
Few people could upstage Drake at the NBA finals, but former President Barack Obama is in attendance for Game 2 of the Raptors-Warriors. Prior reports indicated Obama would be in Drake’s seats by the Raptors bench, but that did not turn out to be the case.
“President Obama in Drake’s seats tonight,” TSN’s James Duthie tweeted.
Drake was in his same spot sitting next to DJ Future the Prince. Obama was spotted next to Adam Silver among the Toronto crowd.
Obama and Adam Silver in the crowd for Game 2 of the #NBAFinals
USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt reported that Canada prime minister Justin Trudeau was also expected to attend but these plans changed.
“Have confirmed Barack Obama is expected to be in attendance for Game 2 of Warriors-Raptors in the #nbafinals. Conflicting info about Canada prime minister Justin Trudeau: was told he is not expected to attend,” Zilligitt tweeted.
The last time we saw Obama at a major basketball game he witnessed Zion Williamson’s shoe explode. Obama’s reaction to Williamson’s shoe exploding during the Duke-North Carolina went viral. We will see if we have any more viral moments with Obama and maybe even Drake.
I can’t stop watching Obama realize Zion blew his shoe out.
Obama Ran Into Drake Prior to the Start of Game 2
.@BarackObama ran into @Drake just before tip-off 👀 #NBAFInals
Obama and Drake are two of the biggest celebrities in the world, and the two had a chance to meet prior to Game 2. As the above video shows, Drake and Obama spoke briefly in the arena tunnel before tipoff.
Obama’s affinity for basketball is no secret, and the former president’s pickup games at the White House is the stuff of legends. Obama won a state title at Punahou School in Hawaii and went on to play college basketball at Occidental College. Obama’s former coach Mike Zinn described his style of play in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.
“He was really athletic, ran good, jumped good,” Zinn noted to the Los Angeles Times. “He wasn’t a great outside shooter. In basketball terminology, he was kind of a slasher. He was left-handed. He went left well, didn’t go right that well. He had a nose for the ball, always came up with loose balls and rebounds inside. So if he got 10 points in a game, most of them were probably under the basket. He didn’t hit jump shots from 15 feet or anything like that. He was a good defender, definitely a good athlete.”
Obama Partnered With Steph Curry at a My Brother’s Keeper Event in Oakland
Given the success the Warriors have had over the last few years, Golden State is no stranger to Obama thanks to multiple White House visits. Earlier this year, Obama also partnered with Curry at a My Brother’s Keeper event for Oakland area young men. ESPN described Obama and Curry’s words at the event.
Obama, who left office in 2017, was joined by basketball star Curry. The men spoke for about an hour, answering questions from the audience and joking around. They talked about lacking confidence or being aimless as teens.
Obama praised single mothers, including his own. He advised the boys to look for a mentor and to find opportunities to guide others.
Curry joined the former president in praising the value of teamwork.