via Getty
US President Barack Obama pretends to shoot a basketball given to him by the University of Kentucky men?s basketball team during an event celebrating their 2012 NCAA championship in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 4, 2012. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/GettyImages)
via Getty
US President Barack Obama pretends to shoot a basketball given to him by the University of Kentucky men?s basketball team during an event celebrating their 2012 NCAA championship in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 4, 2012. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/GettyImages)
In September of this year, it was rumored that 4x NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal and billionaire businessman Jeff Bezos were among the list of people interested in buying a team in the NBA. A month later, reports have claimed there was a new buyer in town: former president Barack Obama. The whole NBA world has been waiting with bated breath for an official announcement from the former US President himself.
Shaq and Bezos were reportedly?interested in having ownership stakes in one specific team: the Phoenix Suns. This was due to current owner Robert Sarver’s tryst with controversies. His racial slurs and inappropriate behavior demanded a new leadership in place.
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In his podcast though, Shaq said he bowed out of the deal, seeing a huge contender in Jeff Bezos.
NBA fans go wild over major Barack Obama news
When asked about it, former Phoenix Suns player Charles Barkley announced that if Barack Obama was part of the deal, he would get involved. His statement has sent the NBA world into a frenzy as the former president of the United States could potentially be a bidder for a team in the league.
Here are some of the reactions from NBA Twitter:
2023 NBA Champs confirmed if true https://t.co/HrKWVt1D8i
— Andrew Taylor (@andrewtaylor09) October 26, 2022
Ayo yooo would be wild honestly https://t.co/R15tvRHru8
— Archangel Gabriel (@THEBLACKAQUAMAN) October 26, 2022
— You've been klopped (@sukarno_01) October 26, 2022
https://twitter.com/KingJuan/status/1585070639278587905?s=20&t=UGoWGBNid0DEydLrocJcig
From Senador to Billionaire…
— Mauricio U. S. (@mauszx) October 26, 2022
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Barkley and Obama have worked together in the past for other campaigns. In fact, during the?lockdown, Shaq, Barkley, and Obama encouraged people to get the COVID-19 vaccine through a light-hearted awareness chat.
In Bill Simmons’ podcast, Simmons revealed that if Obama got the pie, he would be the face of the team. Barkley put the brakes on and announced if Obama called him for the bidding, he would buy in without a doubt. Barkley said that he has so much love and admiration for the former president.
Watch This Story: After Billionaire Indian Businessman Pushed Jeff Bezos to 3rd Position on Richest Person’s List, Shaquille O’Neal Green Signals Amazon Co-Founders NBA Gamble
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President Obama has been a huge sports fan and has always kept fitness a priority. His favorite team in the NBA is the Chicago Bulls. In her memoir too, Michelle Obama spoke about her husband being good at basketball. Alexander Wolff, the author of ‘The Audacity of Hoop: Basketball and the Age of Obama’, noted that basketball was a key figure in his electoral campaigns as well.
What do you think of Barack Obama potentially buying the Phoenix Suns? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
