Obama thanks poll workers in NBA Finals virtual appearance

Whoever said sports and politics didn't belong together?

The first quarter of the NBA Finals Game 1 between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat on Thursday brimmed with stars, though only virtually, with former US President Barack Obama making an appearance and conveying a statement of support.

Obama, the US' 44th president, joined the virtual fan section of the game to thank More Than a Vote poll workers participating in the upcoming elections.

More Than a Vote is a voting rights organization NBA star LeBron James himself launched. It comprises athletes and celebrities fighting against voter suppression especially among people of color. It has recently reached a new milestone of 10,000 poll workers, including Obama and other personalities.

"I hear I'm sitting next to Shaq," Obama said in the video, as he was seen on the Michelob ULTRA Courtside next to former Lakers Shaquille O'Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and Pau Gasol. Among those seated with Obama — a huge basketball fan himself, were Miami Heat franchise icon Dwyane Wade and past NBA champions Dirk Nowitzki, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce.

Obama went on to thank the volunteers, “I am not the main event tonight, but I want to give a shoutout to all the folks who are volunteering as poll workers in the upcoming election."

“It can be a thankless job, it’s not one of those things that you think about but it is absolutely vital for our democracy and I appreciate you and hopefully all NBA fans will appreciate you when they see those shorter lines at the polling places."

The US Presidential Elections take place this November, with the first Presidential Debate already concluded last September 29.