Normally, U.S. presidents go into relative obscurity after leaving the presidency, but Barack Obama might buck the trend and move from one high-profile position to another: NBA owner.
According to White House press secretary Josh Earnest via ESPN news services, the commander-in-chief has discussed the idea of owning an NBA franchise and would pursue it “potentially … under the right circumstances.”
The fact that Obama has had this desire is nothing new though. It’s been much-publicized that Obama is a huge basketball fan, especially when it comes to his hometown Chicago Bulls. Also, we wrote a few months ago about President Obama’s fantasy of owning a team, but now it seems like his fantasy is starting to become something much more real.
Something like this, where a former U.S. President, particularly one like President Obama, would result in huge publicity for the NBA, but there could be some problems. Obama owning a team could be a slippery slope for the other owners. On the one hand, he would be a great guy to have involved in your league, but there could be an issue with his super-high profile. He could also come in and have an immediate advantage over other owners in terms of influence and sway over players.
Imagine a prospective free agent deciding where he’s going to sign, and then realising that one of the teams chasing him is “The President’s Team.” A player could potentially be excited to play for Obama, or even fear saying no, and that could potentially create a competitive imbalance in the league.
NOW WATCH: LEBRON VS. CURRY: Here’s how the NBA’s biggest superstars match up
NOW WATCH: Briefing videos
Business Insider Emails & Alerts
Site highlights each day to your inbox.
Follow Business Insider Australia on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.