The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles kicked off with the usual high-flying pageantry, but the biggest highlight didn’t come from a rim-rattling dunk or a logo triple. Instead, it came from the sidelines, where former President Barack Obama made a high-profile appearance.
Accompanied by former First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughter Sasha, the 44th President reminded the hoops world that while he may have left the Oval Office, his loyalty to the Chicago Bulls remains as “petty” as ever.
The atmosphere at the Intuit Dome was electric as the league’s elite gathered for the mid-season showcase on Sunday. Between the revamped Shooting Stars competition and the main event, the broadcast shifted its focus for a moment to celebrity row.
And this set the stage for a viral exchange between Obama and analyst Reggie Miller that bridged the gap between ’90s nostalgia and modern-day trash talk.
Barack Obama offers epic trash talk during All-Star interview
The moment peaked during an NBC broadcast segment when Hall of Famer and Indiana Pacers legend Miller brought Obama to the courtside for a quick interview.
Miller, never one to shy away from a microphone, asked the former President about his favorite memory of the 1990s Chicago era. Without missing a beat, Obama delivered a cold-blooded line that silenced the Indiana faithful.
“I always enjoyed watching us beat Indiana,” Obama said, leaning into the “us” to cement his status as a Bulls superfan.
The burn refers to the legendary 1998 Eastern Conference Finals, a seven-game war where Michael Jordan’s Bulls narrowly escaped Miller’s Pacers. According to Basketball Reference, the Bulls took Game 7 with an 88-83 win, despite Miller’s late-game heroics and 22 points. During Chicago’s second three-peat, Indiana was one of the few teams that seriously challenged them.
Reggie Miller: “Do you have a favorite moment during that time in Chicago during the ’90s?”
Barack Obama: “I always enjoyed watching us beat Indiana.” 🏀🔥🎙️ #NBA #NBC pic.twitter.com/rCzmUBNU90
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 15, 2026
Miller, who famously gave the “choke sign” to Spike Lee, found himself on the receiving end of the needle this time. Obama even jabbed at the infamous “uncalled push-off” by Jordan in the ’98 series, showing he still tracks the nuances of the game. He admitted that Miller’s perimeter gravity and “three-point threat” were the only things that truly terrified him during that era.
While the 2026 All-Star festivities wrapped up with Team USA Stars taking the title, the league returns to the regular-season grind immediately. The Bulls will return to action at the United Center to host the Toronto Raptors on Thursday with tip-off set for 8:00 p.m. ET.
Meanwhile, the Pacers hit the road that same night to face the Washington Wizards at 7:00 p.m. ET. These Central Division rivals won’t meet head-to-head again until April 1, where Indiana will look to build on their 113-110 season-series lead.
