Barack Obama jokes with NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (full ceremony video)

US president Barack Obama hosted the recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Nov. 22 at the White House, awarding the country’s highest civilian honour to luminaries of business, sports, entertainment, activism, and art. Recipients included Bill and Melinda Gates, Tom Hanks, Ellen Degeneres, Robert DeNiro, Frank Gehry, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, and Maya Lin.
But for Obama, a well-documented basketball fan, it could’ve been the attendance of Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who got him the most excited.
The president, standing respectably tall at 6’1”, was still no match for the NBA legend Abdul-Jabbar, who at 7’2” had to bend backwards, making for an awkward reverse bear hug as Obama awarded him his medal.

source: qz,com

Michael Jordan receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama at the @whitehouse!

A video posted by NBA (@nba) on Nov 22, 2016 at 3:09pm PST

>Related articles

Ioulia Karapataki to headline Antipodes & Greek Fest at Darling Harbour
Greece–Italy 12–5: Historic bronze medal at the European Water Polo Championship
The Shackled Men of Phaleron: This is what the space that will host the major archaeological find will look like – Photos

@kareemabduljabbar_33 receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama at the @whitehouse!

A video posted by NBA (@nba) on Nov 22, 2016 at 3:08pm PST

Ask me anything

Explore related questions

> World

Barack Obama jokes with NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (full ceremony video)

Presidential Medal Freedom Award ceremony

Ask me anything

> Latest Stories

DEDDIE’s Response to the Municipality of Glyfada: ‘The project is fully lawful and based on approved technical and environmental studies’

North Korea launches two ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan, says Tokyo

ALUMIL at the iconic Grand Egyptian Museum – A project of global significance

Major EU-India trade deal creates a market of 2 billion citizens: How tariffs fall, which Greek products are affected, see tables

Fifth body found after fire at Violanta factory in Trikala

Olga’s “fine line,” K.M.’s brake on the “eco-crime” of Milos (and the good that media can do), the accountant godfather (lessons learned…), Bakos’ plan for Douros

Georgiadis: Karystianou’s post on Greek-Turkish relations is far-right; Greece has paid with rivers of blood those who speak of national treason

In Megalopolis, Arcadia, the world’s oldest known wooden tools – see photos

> Culture

In Megalopolis, Arcadia, the world’s oldest known wooden tools – see photos

“This area was very important for human evolution throughout Europe,” explains the head of the research, paleoanthropologist Katerina Harvati

Greek antiquities held by the company of Robin Symes are being repatriated

The Shackled Men of Phaleron: This is what the space that will host the major archaeological find will look like – Photos

The dirty side of Pompeii: baths filled with sweat and urine, according to a new study

Oscars 2026: Four nominations for Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia