Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull embarrassing basketball

Malcolm Turnbull has added another sad chapter to the history of embarrassing sporting moments for Australia’s Prime Ministers.

Appearing at a publicity event in Perth last week, Turnbull attempted a layup which firmly bounced off the rim, much to the groans of the judgemental crowd.

John Howard’s infamous delivery in earthquake-ravaged Pakistan in 2005 was clearly still on the minds of those watching at the Willerton Basketball Stadium.

Malcolm Turnbull has added another sad chapter to the history of embarrassing sporting moments for Australia’s Prime Ministers

Appearing at a publicity event in Perth last week, Turnbull attempted a layup which firmly bounced off the rim, much to the groans of the judgemental crowd

Appearing at a publicity event in Perth last week, Turnbull attempted a layup which firmly bounced off the rim, much to the groans of the judgemental crowd

John Howard's infamous delivery in earthquake-ravaged Pakistan in 2005 was clearly still on the minds of those watching at the Willerton Basketball Stadium

John Howard’s infamous delivery in earthquake-ravaged Pakistan in 2005 was clearly still on the minds of those watching at the Willerton Basketball Stadium

Turnbull's government has been steadily on the decline in the polls, with the Coalition now trailing Labor 47-53

Turnbull’s government has been steadily on the decline in the polls, with the Coalition now trailing Labor 47-53

Turnbull’s government has been steadily on the decline in the polls, with the Coalition now trailing Labor 47-53.

The footage of his sporting inadequacies will hardly help, and despite holding a strong lead over Opposition Leader Bill Shorten as preferred leader (46-31), being re-elected is anything but a slam dunk.

Turnbull threw a last second and trademark mischievous grin before one-handing the ball hopelessly towards the net. 

His shooting technique was full of vigor but wide of the mark and rebounded in his face.

As the ball bounced off the rim and was chased after by the leader of the nation, the demeanour of the young faces watching in close proximity rapidly changed.

As the ball bounced off the rim and was chased after by the leader of the nation, the demeanour of the young faces watching in close proximity rapidly changed

The fallout remains to be seen, but former-Prime Minister Howard's reputation certainly has never recovered from the delivery that dribbled down a Pakistan pitch in the mid 00s

The fallout remains to be seen, but former-Prime Minister Howard’s reputation certainly has never recovered from the delivery that dribbled down a Pakistan pitch in the mid 00s

Turnbull’s handling of former The Apprentice host and current US President, Donald Trump, thankfully was significantly better than that of a basketball. 

The fallout remains to be seen, but former-Prime Minister Howard’s reputation certainly has never recovered from the delivery that dribbled down a Pakistan pitch in the mid 00s.

The self-described cricket tragic betrayed the nation’s proud national game with the ball in 2005, but Turnbull may give him the opportunity to move on and find peace, after still blaming the ‘white tape’ for the failure in an interview as recently as 2015. 

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