If you needed more proof about Barack Obama’s basketball-related humor, the former President had the knack to silence even His Airness. Michael Jordan had an intimidation factor on the court that turned off the biggest trash-talkers. It was, however, his encounter with the commander-in-chief that left MJ tongue-tied.

It happened when the Chicago Bulls legend was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016. President Obama, whose political career began in Chicago and is a diehard Bulls fan, dished some Jordan facts mixed with his latent stand-up comedy talents. One of them had to do with Michael Jordan’s blockbuster foray alongside the great Bugs Bunny.

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“I always love doing this event, but this is a particularly impressive class. We’ve got innovators and artists…public servants, rabble-rousers, athletes, renowned character actors, like the guy from ‘Space Jam,'” Barack Obama said when honoring his final Medal of Freedom recipients. Along with His Airness, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was also honored in 2016. Jordan’s fellow “character actors” included Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, Robert Redford, and Cicely Tyson.

On the occasion of Presidents Day on February 19 – two days after Jordan’s 61st birthday – fans are reliving basketball-maniac Obama’s witticisms when he awarded Jordan one of the highest national honors. Of course, Mike couldn’t respond in the middle of the POTUS’ speech. And his presidential fan took advantage of that.

Barack Obama vs Michael Jordan

Obama did that when using a true episode from Jordan’s childhood for punny purposes. “When he was 5 years old, Michael Jordan nearly cut off his big toe with an axe,” the former President added in his speech. “Back then, his handles needed a little work.”

What really tickled Michael Jordan was the reference to his famous crying meme. When the president said he was “more than just an internet meme,” cameras captured Jordan look up startled and laugh.

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Mike has the panache to rib a president or two too. The 6x NBA champion has visited the White House at least six times, counting the occasion he was honored with the 2016 award. On one occasion, he famously blew off President George H.W. Bush in 1991 to play a round of golf.

Jordan even counts presidents as golf buddies and they aren’t spared the niceties. He’s even taunted both Obama and Bill Clinton on the course. Unlike Clinton though, Obama retorted by bringing up Jordan’s 1991 no-show in an indirect jibe. What do you think abut Jordan’s presidential friendships?

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