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President Obama Welcomes the 2013 NBA Champions the Miami Heat

January 14, 2014 at 5:54 PM ET by Megan Slack and Zara Rahim
Summary: 
President Obama welcomes the 2013 NBA Champion Miami Heat to the White House to honor the team on winning their second-straight NBA championship title.

Today, President Obama welcomed the Miami Heat back to the White House to honor the team for winning their second-straight championship title. 

"Last season, the Heat put together one of the most dominating regular seasons ever by a defending champion," President Obama said. "They won a team-record 66 games.  At one point, they won 27 games straight -- the second-longest winning streak ever."

Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra presents President Barack Obama with a team trophy

Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra presents President Barack Obama with a team trophy to honor the 2013 NBA Champion Miami Heat on winning their second-straight Championship title, in the East Room of the White House, Jan. 14, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

The President congratulated head coach Eric Spoelstra, team president Pat Riley, and members of the staff and crew, and gave a special congrats to the all-star Heat lineup for their hard work last season including finals MVP Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Ray Allen, Chris Bosh, Mario Chalmers, Shane Battier, Udonis Haslem, and of course-- "Birdman, Birdman's tattoos and Birdman's mohawk"

LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade present President Barack Obama with a basketball and a jersey

LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade present President Barack Obama with a basketball and a jersey during an event to honor the 2013 NBA Champion Miami Heat, Miami Heat President Pat Riley, and Coach Erik Spoelstra on winning their second-straight Championship title, in the East Room of the White House, Jan. 14, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

"The Heat showed us the kind of heart and determination it takes to be a champion," the President said. "And they also showed what heart means off the court."

Last year, the team raised close to $2 million for local charities. And today, while at the White House, players met with wounded warriors from the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. 

"Honoring our troops isn’t just something that they do when they come to the White House, it’s something they do all year round with their Heat Home Strong initiative," President Obama said. 

So bottom line is, outstanding athletes, outstanding organization, outstanding team, but also outstanding members of their community.  And so we’re very proud to have them back.  We wish them great luck for the rest of the season, unless they’re playing the Bulls.

After President Obama's remarks, Coach Spoelstra presented the President with an honorary trophy signed by the entire team and a jersey. The President, a longtime Bulls fan even joked "You know, you guys are winning me over a little bit."