Barack Obama draws cheers after saving loose ball at NBA All-Star Game outing with family
The former US president caught a stray ball courtside and received warm ovation from fans
Former US president Barack Obama drew attention at the 2026 NBA All-Star Game after catching a loose ball courtside in an unscripted moment that prompted cheers from the crowd.
Obama, seated beside former first lady Michelle Obama at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, calmly intercepted the ball as it headed towards spectators before returning it to play. He later handed it back to Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns and exchanged a brief word.
The former president, a long-time supporter of the Chicago Bulls, also took part in an on-court interview during the round-robin tournament. Speaking with Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, he was asked about his favourite basketball memories from the 1990s, when Michael Jordan led Chicago to six championships.
“I always enjoyed watching us beat Indiana,” Obama said, prompting light-hearted exchanges referencing the Bulls’ rivalry with the Indiana Pacers.
He also addressed wider debate about the competitiveness of exhibition fixtures. “There’s a lot of concern about the All-Star Game and not seeing effort,” Obama said. “Today we are seeing [that effort]. Anytime you get Americans vs. International (teams), they want to bring it.”
Michelle later shared a photograph from the evening on Instagram featuring the couple and their younger daughter, Sasha Obama. She captioned the post, “My favorite teammates on and off the court.”
Images from the arena’s video display showed the Obamas receiving a warm ovation, underscoring the enduring popularity of the former president at major public events.
