Scottie Pippen saw an unexpected resemblance to Michael Jordan when Barack Obama took the court during an Election Day pick-up game in Chicago. The former Bulls star joked that defenders gave Obama such a wide path to the basket that it looked like “the whole motorcade” was coming through the lane.
Pippen joined Obama’s traditional game in 2012, years after his own NBA retirement. He and Obama ended up on the same team, which Pippen said pulled away after a competitive start.
A Competitive Game in Chicago
“We kind of blew them out,” Pippen said, according to sports.yahoo.com. He added that his team began “messing around” late in the game, but still kept extending its lead when the opposition tried to rally.
The seven-time All-Star was the most accomplished basketball player on the court, but Pippen said Obama had a polished approach of his own. “He’s not an overly aggressive player, but he takes what the defense gives him,” Pippen said in comments to Bulls.com.
Pippen described Obama as having “a smooth game” and suggested the then-president had likely played with more aggression earlier in life. He also noted that Obama had reason to avoid unnecessary risks on the court.
Pippen Was Not Initially on Obama’s Team
Former Illinois state treasurer Alexi Giannoulias said the matchup nearly looked very different because Pippen was originally assigned to the opposing side. Giannoulias recalled wanting Obama’s team to add the NBA legend in order to improve its chances.
According to Giannoulias’ account to GQ, Obama responded by moving Pippen onto his team. Giannoulias said Pippen changed jerseys, winked at him, and then helped his new side “blast” the opposition.
The basketball result capped a successful day for Obama, who also won re-election and went on to serve a second term as president. For Pippen, the game created a Chicago basketball memory built around a lighthearted comparison to his longtime Bulls teammate Jordan.