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"He was elbowing him" -- when Joakim Noah refused to give an inch to then-President Barack Obama

Originally posted on FanNation All Bulls
By Stephen Beslic | Last updated 10/12/22

Defense wins games. That has been a mantra for athletes and coaches for years, and it is just as true on the political stage as it is on the basketball court. Just ask Joakim Noah.

The former Chicago Bulls star tested his defensive skills in 2010 when he played against then-president Barack Obama. And according to former Bull Dwyane Wade, the big man did not pull any punches.

Pick-up game with the president

Wade recently appeared on The Tonight Show and shared a story about when he, Noah, and several other NBA stars got invited to the White House to play a pick-up game with Obama for his 49th birthday. Wade said Obama gathered them and asked them all to play their games.

"He brings us all in and he said 'Hey, I want you guys to play hard and play like this is a real game,'" Wade said. "And we looked around the court and there's secret service all around the court. And it's like 'We can't touch you.'"

It's understandable why the NBA stars were hesitant to get too physical with the president. After all, they were on his turf, and he was the commander-in-chief. But Wade said one player, in particular, took Obama's words to heart.

"Joakim Noah did. He picked him up full court and was elbowing him and everything. It was great," Wade added.

Intensity personified

It's not surprising that Noah would be the one to get physical with Obama. After all, the big man was known for his intensity on the court, especially in the nine seasons he spent playing for the Bulls.

He was a two-time All-Star, All-NBA player, and Defensive Player of the Year. Safe to say, Noah was a man who hung his hat on his defense. And that defensive intensity translated off the court as well.

When Noah had the chance to play against the president, he would not let him get an easy basket. He was going to make him work for every point. In the end, it was all good fun. It was clear that Noah was not going to give an inch, even to the president of the United States. Defense wins games, after all.