Chris Duhon did a guest column in today’s Post on his thoughts on yesterday’s presidential inauguration that the team watched together in the locker room. Duhon got to know President Obama last spring.

By CHRIS DUHON

As I watched the inauguration unfold on TV in the locker room with my Knicks

teammates after yesterday’s practice, I felt excited for our country,

excited for my best friend Reggie Love and excited for my basketball

acquaintance, President Barack Obama.

Reggie Love is Obama’s right-hand man, but his official title is “Special

Assistant and Personal Aide to POTUS” (President of the United States).

To me, he’s just Reggie, my teammate for three years at Duke whom I still

speak to every day. Through Reggie, I met President Obama and played pickup

basketball games with him this past April, May and June – 5 on 5 – in

Chicago’s East Bank Club. Reggie invited me to yesterday’s inauguration – an

offer I had to decline.

To watch Obama win on Election Night was thrilling after meeting him on a

personal level. It felt like Reggie was winning, too. Yesterday, after

watching the inauguration ceremony, I just felt very excited because I felt

connected to it as well.

It’s a breath of fresh air that we’re going to try to make a change. I

texted Reggie right after the speech, “Congrats. Wish I could’ve been

there.”

When Obama finished his speech yesterday, all of my Knick teammates clapped

as one. It was emotional. No one in that room expected to see a black

president in their lifetime. I didn’t think that was something that would

happen, growing up in Louisiana. To witness it actually happen shows that

all of what our ancestors worked for and sacrificed has finally come about.

Obama is very confident and he presents himself as a strong leader. He’ll

do whatever it takes to get things done.

The times I’ve spent with Obama, at Chicago’s East Bank Club, he was very

approachable, easy to talk to, cracking a lot of jokes. He made me feel

comfortable as soon as we met, made me feel loose. It was cool to get to

play with him a few times after my last Bulls’ season ended.

He watches basketball all the time. He and Reggie talk about sports and he

loves the Chicago teams. He always asked me, “Are the Bulls going to make

the playoffs this year? How good are they going to be?” He was always

watching, especially because Reggie keeps an eye on my game.

During our pickup games, Obama was very vocal on both ends of the court,

constantly talking, directing guys, telling them where to go. He understands

how to play the game. He can only go left, though. He knows how to pass and

is a decent shooter.

I was surprised, but more surprised at how he made me feel comfortable from

the get-go. The whole time there, I wasn’t nervous to be around him. He’s

just a normal guy like everyone else.

I had a chance to guard him. He guarded me a few times. I didn’t go full out

but everyone out there does. Nobody takes it easy on him. They definitely go

after him.

When our team was in Washington last week, I went out with Reggie to a

Japanese restaurant. Oddly, we didn’t talk about the upcoming inauguration

or the Knicks. I was glad to catch up with him because we are both so busy.

We were able to just getting away from everything. It’s all you hear about,

all you talk about. I don’t want to talk about basketball. He doesn’t want

to talk about his job. We just talk about life in general.

Reggie didn’t know initially if he wanted to go and work in the White House

after they won the Election. He was thinking of going to law school to

pursue that career. I told him it would be a great opportunity because not

many people can say they worked for a president and be with a president all

the time. He’s excited about it.

Reggie wondered if I could go to the event. I know how historic it is, first

African-American president. I wanted to be there as a supporter and friend

to Reggie. At the same time, I’m in the middle of the season. We’re not that

far out of the playoffs. We’re making good strides. This is my obligation to

compete with this team. I knew the best thing for me was to stay here.

As many people know, I am from Slidell, La. After Hurricane Katrina, my old

house and where my sister still lived was destroyed. My high school was

completely destroyed. I was glad I was able to help and do my part with my

“Stand Tall Foundation.” I think my home state will be in good hands with

Obama. One of his main focuses is the education system. Louisiana’s

educational system needs to be strengthened. Obama will help improve the

situation there and in other neighborhoods around the country. Youth is our

future. We need to educate them as best as we can.

After the Obamas settle in comfortably into their new home, I’d like to

invite them to a Knicks’ game. We’ll see what happens!

(As told to Marc Berman)