It’s not All-Star Weekend without #44. As expected, Barack Obama was in Intuit Dome tonight to soak in the All-Star Game. Armed with the NBC mic, Reggie Miller had to get a mean soundbite from him. Between getting the former POTUS’ opinion on the state of the ASG, he also had to find out what moment in the NBA era he grew up with remains unforgettable. Because that’s a diehard Chicago sports fan and he’s talking to Reggie Miller, the ex-president couldn’t let Miller forget a piece of debatable history.

While the weekend featured a radical new three-team “USA vs. World” format, the conversation quickly pivoted to the golden era of Chicago basketball. During a lighthearted courtside exchange with Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller, the former President didn’t hesitate to reveal his favorite memories from the Bulls’ dynasty.

“I always enjoyed watching us beat Indiana,” Obama joked, leaning into his deep Chicago roots. Despite his fandom, Obama admitted to the immense stress Miller caused the city during that era. “I will say that nobody terrified me more than Reggie Miller with a possible three-point shot at the end of a game.”

The banter took a competitive turn when Obama brought up the infamous 1998 Eastern Conference Finals, a series that nearly ended the Bulls’ “Last Dance.” Referring to the legendary Indiana sharpshooter, Obama joked, “You did push off Michael on that one play, though.”

Clearly, Obama is one of the Chicago natives who hasn’t forgotten that end in Game 4 of the 1998 ECFs. With 3 seconds left in the game, Miller had pushed off Michael Jordan to catch an inbound pass and drain a shot that won the Pacers the game, 96-94. It was the Pacers’ only win in that series. But Bulls fans feel that Miller should’ve been called for an offensive foul on MJ.

Miller didn’t back down. He said everybody did that in the ’90s and referenced Jordan doing the same to Byron Russell against the Jazz in the Finals.

This time, surprisingly, the Knicks Killer himself admitted it should have been a foul, and even Obama acknowledged that Jordan deserved the call in the Utah series. This is understandable, given Miller’s long-standing friendship with Obama that extends beyond their Pacers-Bulls rivalry.

However, the basketball-loving president did challenge Miller to a one-on-one game. Perhaps it could happen at the next All-Star weekend. With the 1998 controversy now settled, Obama turned his attention to another debate.

Obama Addresses Decline in All-Star Weekend Buzz

Beyond the nostalgia, the former President addressed the growing criticism that the All-Star Weekend had lost its competitive edge. In recent years, fans and analysts have complained about the lack of effort in the mid-season showcase that Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant brought.

However, Obama noted that the shift toward a global rivalry has injected much-needed life into the event. “Look, I know a lot of people have been concerned about the All-Star Game not being, not seeing as much effort,” Obama noted.

“Today we saw it, and I do think that whenever you get an international team against an American team, they want to compete, and you’ve got some young guys who I think want to prove something out here.”

Obama credited the 1992 Dream Team for sparking the USA vs World format today. Directly attributing the presence of Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama to the Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird-led 1992 Olympics team.

Obama hopes to make basketball even more accessible than that with the Barack Obama Presidential Center, set to open in June 2026.