Barack Obama Makes Surprise Appearance at NBA Cares Event During All-Star Weekend

Eric Todisco
·3 min read
Barack Obama Makes Surprise Appearance at NBA Cares Event During All-Star Weekend

Barack Obama made a surprise appearance at the 13th annual NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service on Friday.

The former president, 58, joined hundreds of volunteers, including NBA and WNBA players, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago to pack backpacks with supplies.

According to ABC News, Obama met with NBA rookie sensation Zion Williamson, of the New Orleans Pelicans, and Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic at the event.

Meanwhile, at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, several players helped to sort and pack food into cardboard boxes that will be distributed throughout the community. The news outlet also reported that this year was the largest volunteer produce re-pack in the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s history, which dates back to 1979.

The Greater Chicago Food Depository works with over 700 partner organizations and programs, including food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and mobile distributions, to help feed the homeless in the Chicago area.

DeAntae Prince/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
DeAntae Prince/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

“The biggest thing is knowing all the work that we do, not just myself, but everybody here, I think that it’s going to a greater cause, going to people in need,” Donovan Mitchell, guard for the Utah Jazz, told reporters at the event. “Being able to do stuff like this that brings joy to my heart because you’re fulfilling people’s needs and that’s what’s special.”

Brandon Ingram, forward for the New Orleans Pelicans echoed similar remarks, saying, “I’m very intrigued visiting the little kids and seeing their situations… I’m trying to do the right thing and just giving back and supporting.”

RELATED: Common Leads Team Wilbon to Victory in 2020 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game

Then, during the All-Star Weekend Newsmaker Brunch on Saturday, Obama delivered a speech in honor of Kobe Bryant, who died on Jan. 26 at age 40 in a helicopter crash.

“That loss is something that I know many of us are still grappling with,” Obama said. “Particularly Kobe because he was with his daughter, and those families and those children. Those of us that have the privilege of having children and taking kids to ball games, and then rooting for our children and seeing our dreams and hopes passed onto them. Nothing is more heartbreaking. I want to offer the NBA family Michelle and my’s deepest condolences and obviously the families of the Sterns and the Bryants.”

RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About the 2020 NBA All-Star Game in Chicago

A tribute to Bryant was also paid before Friday night’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, as well as to former NBA commissioner David Stern with a 24.2 second moment of silence.

Common | Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images
Common | Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images

Team Wilbon fronted by team captain Common won the matchup, 62-47. Common’s full team comprised of Latin superstar Bad Bunny, comedian Hannibal Buress, country artist Kane Brown, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert bandleader Jon Batiste, Saturday Night Live star Alex Moffat, chef José Andrés, comedian Famous Los, singer and rapper Jidenna, and retired NBA star Quentin Richardson.

The 2020 NBA-All Star weekend will conclude with the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, as LeBron James’ team faces off against another team led by Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.

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