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President Barack Obama: Basketball Star

For his 49th birthday, President Barack Obama treated himself to a game of hoops with a team of NBA all-stars. Take a look back at Obama's long love affair with basketball.

President Barack Obama jokes with Chicago Bulls players Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose. The President played basketball with friends, as well as college and professional basketball players, before an audience that included wounded warriors, participants in a White House mentoring program and Kobe Bryant at Fort McNair in Washington, to celebrate his 49th birthday.

August 8, 2010

President Barack Obama jokes with Chicago Bulls players Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose. The President played basketball with friends, as well as college and professional basketball players, before an audience that included wounded warriors, participants in a White House mentoring program and Kobe Bryant at Fort McNair in Washington, to celebrate his 49th birthday.

Pete Souza-The White House

President Barack Obama and daughter Sasha enjoy a basketball game between the Tulsa Shock and the Washington Mystics at the Verizon Center in Washington.

August 1, 2010

President Barack Obama and daughter Sasha enjoy a basketball game between the Tulsa Shock and the Washington Mystics at the Verizon Center in Washington.

Richard A. Lipski-The Washington Post

President Obama looks over his bracket with Coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils in the Rose Garden of the White House.

May 27, 2010

President Obama looks over his bracket with Coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils in the Rose Garden of the White House.

Alex Brandon-AP

President Obama shoots a basketball during the annual Easter Egg Roll at the White House.

April 5, 2010

President Obama shoots a basketball during the annual Easter Egg Roll at the White House.

Alex Brandon-AP

Obama and Vice President Joe Biden share a game program during the Georgetown Hoyas defeat of the Duke Blue Devils at the Verizon Center in Washington.

January 30, 2010

Obama and Vice President Joe Biden share a game program during the Georgetown Hoyas defeat of the Duke Blue Devils at the Verizon Center in Washington.

John Mcdonnell-The Washington Post

President Barack Obama comments with CBS Sports broadcasters Clark Kellogg, and Verne Lundquist during the Georgetown Duke basketball game at the Verizon Center in Washington.

January 30, 2010

President Barack Obama comments with CBS Sports broadcasters Clark Kellogg, and Verne Lundquist during the Georgetown Duke basketball game at the Verizon Center in Washington.

Alex Brandon-AP

President Barack Obama, standing with Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, holds a personalized team jersey in the East Room of the White House.

January 25, 2010

President Barack Obama, standing with Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, holds a personalized team jersey in the East Room of the White House.

Charles Dharapak-AP

President Barack Obama shares a laugh with members of the Los Angeles Lakers in the East Room of the White House.

January 25, 2010

President Barack Obama shares a laugh with members of the Los Angeles Lakers in the East Room of the White House.

Alex Brandon-AP

Barack Obama, his wife Michelle and his mother-in-law, Marian Robinson, react to a close play as Michelle's brother, Craig Robinson, coach the Oregon State team.

November 28, 2009

Barack Obama, his wife Michelle and his mother-in-law, Marian Robinson, react to a close play as Michelle's brother, Craig Robinson, coach the Oregon State team.

John Mcdonnell-The Washington Post

President Barack Obama watches an Oregon State game.

November 28, 2009

President Barack Obama watches an Oregon State game.

John Mcdonnell-The Washington Post

White House Press Secretary. Robert Gibbs holds up a photograph of Obama blocking a shot by his personal aide, Reggie Love.

October 8, 2009

White House Press Secretary. Robert Gibbs holds up a photograph of Obama blocking a shot by his personal aide, Reggie Love.

Jim Young-Reuters

President Barack Obama performs a behind-the-back move, and then tosses the ball to Reggie Love after he welcomed 2008 WNBA champions Detroit Shock on the South Lawn of The White House.

July 27, 2009

President Barack Obama performs a behind-the-back move, and then tosses the ball to Reggie Love after he welcomed 2008 WNBA champions Detroit Shock on the South Lawn of The White House.

Alex Brandon-AP

President Obama receives a customized game jersey from University of North Carolina head Coach Roy Williams, at the White House.

May 11, 2009

President Obama receives a customized game jersey from University of North Carolina head Coach Roy Williams, at the White House.

Bill O'leary-The Washington Post

President Obama meets with the women's varsity basketball team of the University of Connecticut outside the South Portico of the White House.

April 27, 2009

President Obama meets with the women's varsity basketball team of the University of Connecticut outside the South Portico of the White House.

Bill O'leary-The Washington Post

President Barack Obama is joined by members of University of Connecticut women's basketball team to shoot some hoops at the White House court.

April 27, 2009

President Barack Obama is joined by members of University of Connecticut women's basketball team to shoot some hoops at the White House court.

Lawrence Jackson-White House Photo

President Obama looks on as the Chicago Bulls play the Washington Wizards in Washington.

February 27, 2009

President Obama looks on as the Chicago Bulls play the Washington Wizards in Washington.

Evan Vucci-AP

Wizards' fan Miles Rawls high-fives President Obama during a game between the Washington Wizards and the Chicago Bulls.. The two were having fun smack-talking throughout the game.

February 27, 2009

Wizards' fan Miles Rawls high-fives President Obama during a game between the Washington Wizards and the Chicago Bulls.. The two were having fun smack-talking throughout the game.

Preston Keres-The Washington Post

President Obama poses with members of the Chicago Bulls basketball team and holds a personalized jersey, in the Blue Room at the White House.

February 26, 2009

President Obama poses with members of the Chicago Bulls basketball team and holds a personalized jersey, in the Blue Room at the White House.

Joyce N. Boghosian-White House Photo

Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, raises up an Obama basketball jersey given to him by University of Oregon men's basketball coach Ernie Kent, right, during a rally in the Memorial Quad on the University of Oregon campus.

May 9, 2008

Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, raises up an Obama basketball jersey given to him by University of Oregon men's basketball coach Ernie Kent, right, during a rally in the Memorial Quad on the University of Oregon campus.

Ryan Gardner-AP

Sen. Obama plays basketball at Riverview Elementary School in Elkhart, Indiana.

May 4, 2008

Sen. Obama plays basketball at Riverview Elementary School in Elkhart, Indiana.

Jae C. Hong-AP

Barack Obama shoots the ball while playing basketball with Aaron Villicana, bottom left, after talking to the family members of Villicana in Union Mills, Ind.

May 1, 2008

Barack Obama shoots the ball while playing basketball with Aaron Villicana, bottom left, after talking to the family members of Villicana in Union Mills, Ind.

Jae C. Hong-AP

Barack Obama drives to the basket against the University of North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough during a basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C.

April 29, 2008

Barack Obama drives to the basket against the University of North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough during a basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Jae C. Hong-AP

The University of North Carolina's Jack Wooten pressures Obama during a basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C.

April 29, 2008

The University of North Carolina's Jack Wooten pressures Obama during a basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Jae C. Hong-AP

Barack Obama shoots a basketball while touring the Indiana High School Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle, Ind.

April 26, 2008

Barack Obama shoots a basketball while touring the Indiana High School Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle, Ind.

Jae C. Hong-AP

Barack Obama pressures Kory McKay during a "3-on-3 Challenge for Change" basketball game at Maple Crest Elementary School in Kokomo, Ind.

April 25, 2008

Barack Obama pressures Kory McKay during a "3-on-3 Challenge for Change" basketball game at Maple Crest Elementary School in Kokomo, Ind.

Jae C. Hong-AP

Barack Obama attemts to block a shot by Ja'Rob McCallum during a "3-on-3 Challenge for Change" basketball game at Maple Crest Elementary School in Kokomo, Ind.

April 25, 2008

Barack Obama attemts to block a shot by Ja'Rob McCallum during a "3-on-3 Challenge for Change" basketball game at Maple Crest Elementary School in Kokomo, Ind.

Jae C. Hong-AP

Barack Obama plays basketball in a photo from the 1978 Punahou School Yearbook . The caption says, "Thanks Tut, Gramps, Choom Gang, and Ray for all the good times."

1978

Barack Obama plays basketball in a photo from the 1978 Punahou School Yearbook . The caption says, "Thanks Tut, Gramps, Choom Gang, and Ray for all the good times."

Punahoe Schools

Obama, second row center, is seen with his junior varsity basketball team in this 1977 yearbook class photo from the Punahou School in Honolulu.

1977

Obama, second row center, is seen with his junior varsity basketball team in this 1977 yearbook class photo from the Punahou School in Honolulu.

Punahoe Schools-AP

Gallery Credits:
Text Editor Milos Balac

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Related

Happy Birthday Mr. President!
Photos | As President Barack Obama turns 49, take a look back at how other presidents chose to celebrate their birthdays through the years.

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