"If the Rockets spent any time discussing how they spent their summer vacation, forward Shane Battier might have had the most interesting day to describe.

Battier spent a day playing pickup basketball with other NBA players and President Barack Obama.

"It was one of the coolest experiences of my life," Battier said. "First of all, just the invitation, it was a top-secret mission. I couldn't tell anybody. First of all, my cab drops me off and there's LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade and Magic Johnson and Grant Hill. I was like, "Oh my God. Where am I?"

"Even for a casual basketball fan, it was a sweet experience. Then we go to Fort McHenry and go through a bunch of security and there's the president shooting hoops. It was an amazing day.

"I was his personal screener. I made sure he got open shots. He made the game-winner in the last game we played.

"We lost the first two games. He wasn't happy.

"Unless we wanted to face a lifetime (tax) audit every year, it was suggested we win the last game. "