WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama  endorsed his hometown Chicago Bulls as a great destination for LeBron James should the National Basketball Association MVP  decide to leave Cleveland as a free agent this year.

The NBA’s First Fan, a known Bulls supporter, made his case in an interview that will be aired during TNT’s telecast of today’s playoff game between Los Angeles and Phoenix.

“You know, like I said, I don’t want to meddle,” Obama said in the interview on the White House basketball court. “I will say this: (Derrick) Rose, Joakim Noah it’s a pretty good core. You know, you could see LeBron fitting in pretty well there.”

James, a six-times All-Star, is one of several high-profile players who could opt for free agency this year. He has never won a championship and his top-seeded Cavaliers took an early exit from the playoffs earlier this month.

The interview with Obama, an avid NBA fan and recreational basketball player himself, came before yesterday’s announcement that Cleveland fired head coach Mike Brown.

“I think that the most important thing for LeBron right now is actually to find a structure where he’s got a coach that he respects and is working hard with teammates who care about him and if that’s in Cleveland, then he should stay in Cleveland,” said Obama.

“If he doesn’t feel like he can get it there, then someplace else.”