SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former Utah Jazz center Ekpe Udoh got a surprise message on Twitter Wednesday from former President Barack Obama.

Udoh, who oversees ‘Ekpe’s Book Club‘ tweeted a question asking what club members thought of the title of Obama’s book, A Promised Land, and how they interpreted its meaning.

“Why do y’all think that President Obama named his memoir A Promised Land?” Udoh asked. “How do you define a promised land? #Ekpesbookclub”

The former president replied with a 45-second video explaining how he came upon the title.

“Hey Ekpe, I saw your tweet and I thought I’d respond,” Obama said. “The Promised Land is something. Dr. King talked about, obviously, it’s based in the Bible, a guy named Moses talked about it too.”

.@EkpeUdoh—I saw your tweet about A Promised Land and thought I’d respond. For me, the title of my book is about the work we need to do to realize the promise of becoming a more perfect union, even if we don’t get there in our lifetimes. Glad to see your book club is reading it! https://t.co/aVRMxwt5JH pic.twitter.com/Uz3LMAWD2z

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 27, 2021

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. referenced the Promised Land in his “I’ve Been To The Mountain Top” speech, delivered in Memphis, Tennessee, just one day before he was assassinated.

“I’ve seen the Promised Land,” Dr. King said. “I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.”

Obama then further explained how he arrived at the title for his book.

“For me, the title of my books about the work we need to do to realize the promise and becoming a more perfect union,” Obama said. “Even if we don’t get there in our lifetimes, having that faith that it’s possible for us to eventually arrive, understanding that it’s going to be a tough and sometimes treacherous journey along the way.”

The former president encouraged members of the club to continue to send him questions.

“Anyway, thanks for asking and for reading the book,” Obama said. “I’d love to hear any more thoughts or questions that folks in your book club took away from reading.”

Not The First Time Udoh Has Spoken To An Obama

Udoh’s response from the former president was not his first interaction with a member of the first family.

The former Jazzman received a tweet from former First Lady Michelle Obama in 2019 while his club was leading her memoir, Becoming.

So excited that you’ll be reading my memoir, @EkpeUdoh—can’t wait to hear what you all discuss! #IAmBecoming #EkpesBookClub https://t.co/KvtM5BxhmW

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) April 1, 2019

“So excited that you’ll be reading my memoir, @EkpeUdoh,” Obama wrote. “—can’t wait to hear what you all discuss! #IAmBecoming #EkpesBookClub”

A former lottery pick Udoh spent seven seasons in the NBA, including the final two years of his career in the United States with the Jazz.

Udoh averaged 2.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 114 appearances with the Jazz.

The center spent the 2019-20 season with the Beijing Ducks of the CBA.