Barack Obama says Spurs are team ‘I want to be a part of’

Former President of the United States, Barack Obama, said he would sign with the San Antonio Spurs if given the chance.

It’s hard to argue with the success of the San Antonio Spurs these past two decades. With five championships, head coach Gregg Popovich and Hall of Fame players like Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, there’s plenty to look back on and appreciate. So, is it any surprise that former President of the United States, Barack Obama showed appreciation for the Silver and Black?

At the MIT Sports Analytics Conference, Obama revealed he would join the Spurs if given the chance, according to the Huffington Post:

“They’re smart, they’re well-run, they’re focused on team,” he said (listen in the sound clip below). “They treat everybody in the organization with respect, and that is the kind of organization that I want to be a part of. So I would say that over the last 15 years in basketball, San Antonio would be a great example of that.”

With the list of organizational accolades, Obama liked what he saw from the Spurs’ history. The championships, the “organization respect” and the culture seem to appeal to him, and something that’s seen from the outside.

Popovich caught wind of these comments from Obama, and loved them, according to Melissa Rohlin of the Bay Area News Group:

Pop on Obama saying he'd pick SA if he were a free agent: "That's very flattering. I'd have to do a background check on him, though, bc I've heard some things he's done in the past aren't very good. I can't remember where I heard that stuff, but I'd have to do a background check"

— Melissa Rohlin (@melissarohlin) March 1, 2018

Popovich and Obama met in 2015, when the Spurs went to the White House to celebrate the team’s 2014 NBA Finals victory vs. the Miami Heat. It’s safe to say if San Antonio wins the 2018 championship, do not expect Popovich to take another trip to the White House.

Next: Top 25 players in Spurs history

Maybe Popovich and Obama will meet again and talk basketball. Who knows? Maybe Obama arrives at the AT&T Center for a game in the future, whether it’s later this season or in 2018-19. That would stir up a few headlines and make for a star-studded photo on social media.