Basketball stars play hoops with Obama

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – A star-studded team of professional basketball players joined President Barack Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan in a game for U.S. troops  and young people on Sunday.

Obama and Duncan shot hoops with the basketball stars, which included LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and hall-of-famers Bill  Russell and Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Kobe Bryant attended, but did not play.

Obama’s birthday celebrity game also included retired NBA All-Star Alonzo Mourning, Derek Fisher of the Los Angeles Lakers, Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups of the Denver Nuggets and Maya Moore of the WBA Connecticut Huskies, among others.

The stellar team on the court at Fort McNair military base gym in Washington entertained wounded soldiers and participants of a White House mentoring programme aimed at motivating teenagers to aspire to great achievements.