Barack Obama was interviewed by Reggie Miller at the 2026 NBA All-Star Game. Obama, a Bulls fan, told the Pacers legend: “I always enjoyed watching us beat Indiana.” He also brought up a play from the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals. “You did push off Michael on that one play, though. Everybody knows it,” Obama said.
Obama told Miller “everybody knows” about the push-off
Barack Obama referenced one of the most debated plays in Bulls-Pacers history. During the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals, Reggie Miller made a shot while appearing to push off Michael Jordan. No foul was called. “Nobody terrified me more than Reggie Miller with a possible three-point shot at the end of a game,” Obama said. Then he added: “You did push off Michael on that one play, though. Everybody knows it.” Miller defended the play, noting the officials didn’t call a foul.
Obama sat courtside with Michelle and Sasha
The former president attended the All-Star Game at Intuit Dome with Michelle Obama and their daughter Sasha. Obama is a longtime Chicago Bulls fan. The Bulls and Pacers had one of the NBA’s most intense rivalries during the 1990s. Miller was a central figure in those matchups against Jordan’s teams. Obama’s comment — “I always enjoyed watching us beat Indiana” — referenced that era.
Obama praised the new All-Star format
The 2026 All-Star Game used a round-robin format with two American teams and one World team. Obama commented on the format during his interview with Miller. “There’s a lot of concern about the All-Star Game and not seeing effort from the players,” Obama said. “Today we are seeing that effort.” The new structure was designed to increase competitiveness. Obama’s endorsement aligned with the league’s goal of making the event more engaging.
Miller conducted the courtside interview
Reggie Miller interviewed Obama during the broadcast. The exchange combined basketball history with humor. Obama praised Miller’s clutch shooting ability before calling out the 1998 play. Miller maintained his defense of the no-call. The interview highlighted the enduring nature of the Bulls-Pacers rivalry nearly three decades after their playoff battles.