‘Lethal Shooter’ Chris Matthews Still Wants to Train Barack Obama

Chris "Lethal Shooter" Matthews has worked with NBA stars and recognizable names far outside professional basketball, but one famous hoops enthusiast remains on his wish list, former President Barack Obama.

Matthews named Obama during a new appearance on TMZ Sports while running through the people he would still like to get into the gym. "Barack Obama, come on," he said as the conversation moved through his dream clients.

The list extended well beyond the former president, spanning sports, movies, music and television. Matthews also floated Mike Tyson, Samuel L. Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Oprah Winfrey and Denzel Washington, although he did not say that training sessions had been arranged with any of them.

Obama's name was not a spontaneous addition to the latest interview. Matthews had already identified him as a dream client earlier in 2026.

Obama Has Been on Matthews' Wish List Since April

In an April interview with DC News Now , Matthews was asked who he still wanted to work with after building his basketball-training brand. The outlet's report listed Obama, Denzel Washington and Magic Johnson as the three names he gave at the time.

There is an obvious basketball connection behind Matthews' interest in Obama. The archived Obama White House site records that the White House tennis court was adapted early in his presidency so it could also host full-court basketball, and Michelle Obama said publicly in 2010 that basketball was his favorite sport and that he would play it every day if he could.

Matthews Already Works Across the NBA and Entertainment

TMZ notes that he has trained Justin Bieber and Michael B. Jordan in addition to NBA players including Jaylen Brown and Anthony Davis. His basketball resume extends much further than those examples.

Matthews has spent years working as a shooting specialist with professional players, tailoring mechanics to individual bodies, roles and shot profiles instead of teaching every client the same motion.

His work with Davis was documented by Sports Illustrated during the Lakers' championship era, while Matthews has also discussed his training with Brown in later interviews.

His sessions with actors, musicians and other public figures allow Matthews to package shooting instruction into social-media clips that can reach audiences beyond people who follow NBA skills training.

His Latest Dream List Stretches From Mike Tyson to Oprah

The new TMZ interview showed how broadly Matthews now defines a potential client. He started with Mike Tyson and Samuel L. Jackson before making one of the more unusual pitches of the conversation for Stevie Wonder.

Matthews argued that Wonder's musical sense of rhythm and ability to follow sound could translate into learning shooting mechanics. "Trust me, bro. He can make a jump shot," he told TMZ before explaining the connection he saw between musical timing and basketball.

Obama and Oprah Winfrey came next, followed by Washington. The mix effectively spans boxing, acting, music, television and politics rather than staying within the usual pool of athletes.

NBA All-Star Weekend Put His Crossover Coaching on Display

Matthews' ability to move between serious player development and entertainment was particularly visible during 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. The NBA listed him as one of the coaches for the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game alongside figures including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Mookie Betts, Anthony Anderson and trainer Chris Brickley.

Before the game, the NBA also highlighted Matthews working directly with GloRilla on her jump shot. The league posted footage of the rapper getting last-minute shooting tips before she took the court in the Celebrity Game.