6 Pickup Basketball Games You Wish You Were At

Pickup basketball is a casual game, but these games were a bit less casual than when you played "horse" with your lil bro in your parents' driveway. - Brought to you by the Kia Optima

1. Barack Obama's pickups at the White House

AFP / MANDEL NGAN / Getty Images

Say what you will of the man's policies—he's a dynamite basketball player.

At Obama's weekly pickup games, professionals and casual players alike fight for the chance to play on the same court as the Commander-in-Chief. And if you're lucky enough to get an invite, don't even think about taking it easy on him just because he's the President. As a former point guard for Florida State said, "If you take it easy on him, you're not invited back."

2. Jordan Crawford dunking on LeBron James

LeBron James runs a basketball academy that's fittingly named, "LeBron James Skills Academy." While he's usually pretty removed from the day-to-day activities of the academy, back in July of 2009 he stopped by to play a couple games with his students. Little did he know that a young upstart at Xavier was about to take him to town on his own court.

3. Dream Team's 1992 pickup games

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It took them a few years, but back in 1992, the US made the bold(ly obvious) decision to pick the very best basketball players and put 'em all on the US Olympic team.

During training, they matched up against a variety of other professional ballers; but in one infamous match, the "Dream Team" (composed of players like Michael Jordan, mind you) was pitted against college players. They all took it as such a joke that they lost—leading to the coach benching them all for a day, to "think about what [they'd] done." Well, they did. When the rematch happened, the Dream Team completely skunked the college team—they didn't score a single point.

4. Pickup game on an aircraft carrier

http://U.S. Navy / Getty Images

In a pretty cool salute to veterans and service members, on Nov. 11, 2011, Michigan State and North Carolina universities played a basketball game on the "hoop deck" of the USS Carl Vinson. Not only would being one of the players be an honor, but just watching the spectacle would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

5. Any time against the Beastie Boys

Via youtube.com

The Beastie Boys were basketball FANATICS back in the day (RIP Adam Yauch), and they were adamant about not just their love for the game, but their skills, too. In 1995, they played pickup games with fans while on tour, and in the original release of NBA Jam, they're hidden, unlockable players.

6. At the "Highest Court in the Land"

Via en.wikipedia.org

It may not look like much, but this is the Highest Court in the Land.

Ever wanted to do some layups with Ruth Ginsberg? Well, you can. On the fifth floor of the Supreme Court of the United States, you'll find a basketball court—the "Highest Court in the Land."

Just don't wear one of those wigs. They don't do that anymore. You'll embarrass yourself.

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