Former U.S. president Barack Obama is in attendance for Game 2 of the NBA Finals at the Scotiabank Arena as the Toronto Raptors host the Golden State Warriors.

The 44th president has been friends with Raptors GM Masai Ujiri for years. The two, along with Obama’s sister, Auma Obama, have also joined forces for charitable endeavours in Africa. Obama joined Ujiri in Kogelo, Kenya, in 2018 at the opening of a basketball court donated by Ujiri’s Giants of Africa foundation.

“He’s special. He’s just one of those people in the world who is special and he’s unbelievable with people, he treats people so well. Very patient, has time to just make every single person feel good and, you can imagine, it was even more special for me. He’s half-Kenyan, I’m half Kenyan and if you can give back in any way it matters so much. Just to do that with him was big,” said Ujiri at the time.

But Obama also has friends on the Warriors’ side of the court. Steph Curry has played golf with Obama and is a donor to the Obama Foundation.

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Last year, the Warriors skipped the visit to the White House after winning the NBA championship. Instead, they had a private meeting with Obama.

Before the Warriors won the 2018 final against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Curry, James and Warriors coach Steve Kerr were all critical of U.S. President Donald Trump and indicated that nobody from their teams wanted the White House invite typically extended to winning American sports teams.

Asked before Game 2 if there were any memories of Obama that had stuck with him, Kerr mentioned meeting the former president at the White House after the 2015 championship.

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“That was quite a thrill to visit there and have the whole team there. It’s a treat to experience that,” said Kerr.

What do you think?

Obama has been in Canada since Friday, when delivered a speech in Ottawa and also met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a local brew pub. Speaking to more than 11,000 people gathered at Ottawa’s Canadian Tire Centre, he praised the enthusiasm of Raptors fans and noted that he “has good friends in both” teams.

“I love both teams, I want a great series. Neither of them are the (Chicago) Bulls so I feel no obligation to choose,” Obama said.

With files from Laura Armstrong and Doug Smith

TY Tom Yun is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star’s radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @thetomyun

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