NBA champ takes issue with Obama's pitch to Michigan voters amid hotly contested Senate race

Kyle Kuzma, a one-time NBA champion and current Milwaukee Bucks forward, pushed back on former President Barack Obama’s glowing remarks about Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., and Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on Saturday.

Obama was at a rally in support of El-Sayed, who is up against Mike Rogers. The former president raised the possibility of El-Sayed and Slotkin as a "power duo" in the Senate, remarking on El-Sayed and Slotkin’s religious beliefs. El-Sayed is a Muslim and Slotkin is Jewish.

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Milwaukee Bucks' Ryan Rollins celebrates his basket with Kyle Kuzma during the first half of an NBA game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Kuzma, who is from Flint, Michigan, wrote on X that the last thing anyone from Michigan cares about is what religion their representatives in D.C. practice.

"This desperate pysop (sic) is unbearable to watch in Michigan. so tired of listening to it," Kuzma wrote. "1 in 4 black people in Michigan are below the poverty line and the message is Muslim/jewish duo is what we’re talking about.

"Last thing that Michiganders care about is a religious identity pitch. And on top of that Michigan is a state where the population of Muslims and Jews are both 1 percent. What are we talking about."

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Former President Barack Obama, center, joined by Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Abdul El-Sayed, left, and Democratic gubernatorial nominee and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson raise hands during a campaign event at Cass Technical High School on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

The election is Nov. 3 and it’s coming down to the wire in Michigan.

A Sept. 30 Fox News Poll revealed that Michigan voters have concerns about both candidates leading up to Election Day. At the time, El-Sayed held a one-point lead over Rogers.

To Kuzma’s point, those who took part in the Fox News Poll at the time said that cost of living was extremely important in their vote for Senate. President Donald Trump, immigration and U.S. policy toward Israel were also considered to be extremely important to voters.

US Democratic Senate candidate from Michigan Abdul El-Sayed speaks with reporters during a Student Meet and Greet at the Michigan Theatre in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on August 26, 2026. (JEFF KOWALSKY / AFP via Getty Images)

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Rogers previously lost to Slotkin in 2024 for the Senate. Trump won the state by less than two percentage points.