Obama's Best Sports Trash Talking Moments

The 44th President of the United States of the America was a huge sports fan and not afraid to throw some shade at the world's greatest atheltes.

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Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Connor McGregor. These are just a few of the greatest trash talkers we’ve seen in the world of sports. But there’s one man who’s consistently been a part of some of the funniest, most savage trash talking moments for the last eight years…and he's not a star athlete.

President Barack Obama has low-key mastered the art of laying the verbal smackdown on some of the most famous and accomplished athletes in the world with perfect burns. Most notably, 44 has used the traditional post-championship victory team visits to the White House as his primary platform for doing so.

Obama’s exemplary oratory skills are one of the reasons he was a truly effective trash talker. And it doesn't hurt that as the president, he commands the utmost respect from everyone in the room and is practically immune from any retorts. Just ask MJ and Steph Curry.

So before he officially departs office on Friday, here are President Obama’s best sports trash talking moments, directed at the world’s top athletes.

Obama clowned the GOAT.

Obama Michael Jordan 2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom

Obama roasted Steph Curry—not once but twice.

Obama Steph Curry White House NBA Champions Warriors

Obama taunts Clark Kellogg while playing HORSE.

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Obama’s smooth lefty jumpshot was on display when he faced off against CBS college basketball commentator Clark Kellogg in a game of POTUS (the White House version of HORSE). Kellogg, a former NBA player who averaged 20.1 points and 10.6 rebounds during his rookie season with the Indiana Pacers, jumped out to an early lead. But Obama, always cool and confident under pressure, stormed back. With the game tied at P-O-T-U, Obama had a chance to put Kellogg away—which is exactly what he did. He shot a 3-pointer from the left wing, and before it swished through the hoop, yelled “Whap!” It was epic, perhaps something he learned from Curry, who always seems to know his shot is going in before everyone else does. Oh, and Obama electing to use the word “whap” is pretty freakin’ awesome.

Obama flamed every single member of the Cavaliers.

Obama Cavaliers LeBron Shumpert Love 2016

Obama went toe-to-toe with Kobe.

Obama Kobe Bryant 2010 Chicago

Obama reminded Magic about “the layup.”

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Obama was clearly in his element whenever he welcomed championship teams to the White House. During the 2010 NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers’ visit, Obama—being the huge Chicago Bulls fan that he is—reminded everyone that Phil Jackson won six of his 10 titles with Chicago. He then spoke directly to Magic, who stood with the rest of Lakers, saying, “You remember that, Magic.” He proceeded to rib Magic about the play in the Game 2 of the 1991 NBA Finals when Michael Jordan soared through the air and switched hands to complete one of the most iconic layups in NBA history. But Obama didn’t just explain Mike's move, he acted it out as well, adding some extra sauce to the insult, and drawing plenty of laughs from the Lakers and White House audience in the process.  

Obama dissed Von Miller and the Broncos' mediocre offense.

Obama Broncos Super Bowl 50 White House Peyton Manning

Obama proved he could troll with the best of them at the Patriots' expense.

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Deflategate taught us how petty the NFL and Roger Goodell can be. If you thought President Obama was above being petty, this is what he had to say to the Patriots (with Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick flanking him): “I usually tell a bunch of jokes at these events, but with the Patriots in town, I was worried that 11 out of 12 of them would fall flat.” Recall the NFL determining that 11 of the 12 footballs were found to be under-inflated by the Pats during the 2015 AFC Championship game against the Colts which birthed the whole Deflategate controversy. 

Obama praised Carli Lloyd, shaded presidential candidates.

Obama Carli Lloyd USWNT World Cup 2015

Obama told The Truth how it goes down.

President Obama Shooting Hoops 2012

Obama told Coach K he'd dominate his fantasy basketball camp.

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When it comes to basketball in particular, President Obama is a very competitive dude. That’s why, when Coach K personally invited the prez to attend his 35-and-older fantasy basketball camp during Duke’s visit to the White House (after capturing the 2015 National Championship), the leader of the free world confidently stated, “I’ll dominate.” Everyone laughed, but Obama, wanting to let everyone know he wasn’t joking, followed up by shrugging and adding, “Well, it’s true.” That’s the competitive drive of a Michael or Kobe right there.

Obama called out Charles Barkley for being, well, out of shape.

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The final few minutes of the 2016 National Championship game between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels was a roller coaster. After Marcus Paige hit a ridiculous double-pump 3-pointer to tie things up with 4.7 seconds remaining, Kris “Big Smoove” Jenkins nailed the clutch-est, most cold-blooded treys in NCAA Tournament history as time expired to make Nova national champions. During the team’s visit to the White House a few months later, Obama noted that the climactic game winner was so exciting and dramatic that it made Charles Barkley “jump out of his seat, which he doesn’t do very often these days.” Was Obama calling the Chuckster fat? Maybe. But one thing is for sure: He certainly wasn’t commenting on Barkley’s sprightliness.

Obama epically clapped back at Mike.

President Obama Hawaii Golf 2015

Obama wanted Curry to come correct on the golf course.

Obama Golf Course Hawaii 2014

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