Former President Obama made a shock look at USA Basketball’s fiftieth anniversary occasion on Tuesday evening, the place he was all smiles among the many gamers heading to Paris to characterize the United States on this 12 months’s Olympics and extra.
Obama delivered a 10-minute speech throughout his look, reminding everybody simply how a lot of a basketball fan he’s.
With the Olympic roster behind him, Obama stated he believes that Team USA will come dwelling with a gold medal in basketball.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
“I simply need to come right here to clearly ship off the soon-to-be gold-medal winners,” Obama stated, by way of USA Today.
“I’m fairly assured that they’re going to be bringing again the gold and representing us the way in which we ought to be represented world wide.”
Obama additionally acknowledged all of the legends and those that have impacted USA Basketball over the previous 5 a long time in his speech.
VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS ENCOURAGES US MEN’S BASKETBALL TO ‘BRING BACK THE GOLD’ AS PARIS OLYMPICS LOOM
Hall of Famers, former Olympians and others have been current for the occasion, together with Carmelo Anthony, Spencer Haywood, Cheryl Miller, Dawn Staley, Dwyane Wade, Sheryl Swoopes and Patrick Ewing.
Obama was additionally sitting courtside for Team USA’s exhibition recreation in opposition to Canada, which the Stars and Stripes received, 86-72. Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards led the pack in factors with 13 after going 6-of-10 from the sphere off the bench.
Steph Curry additionally had 12 factors, whereas Jrue Holiday dropped 11 as nicely.
Curry was amongst those who liked seeing Obama in attendance for the sport.
Basketball Hall of Fame member Spencer Haywood, left, talks with former President Obama within the second half of an exhibition recreation between Canada and the United States forward of the Paris Olympic Games at T-Mobile Arena on July 10, 2024 in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
“To have President Obama come – and he is nice with the microphone and actually inspiring together with his phrases – it was cool to set us off into this journey this summer time with celebrating the 50 years of USAB and what we’re attempting to do that summer time,” Steph Curry stated, by way of USA TODAY. “So, I bought goosebumps whereas he was speaking.”
Obama was not the one politician seeking to ship off Team USA, as Vice President Kamala Harris additionally briefly visited the squad at their follow on UNLV’s campus in Las Vegas.
Just like Obama, Harris believes this group has what it takes to win all of it in Paris.
“Bring again the gold,” she addressed the group.
Former President Obama attends an exhibition recreation between Canada and the United States forward of the Paris Olympic Games at T-Mobile Arena on July 10, 2024 in Las Vegas. The United States defeated Canada 86-72. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Team USA nonetheless has a number of showcase video games on their schedule earlier than Olympic contests start later this month. Their subsequent recreation comes on July 15 in opposition to Australia in Abu Dhabi.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle e-newsletter.
