This is historical material “frozen in time”. The website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work.

Search form

The Dallas Mavericks at the White House

Summary: 
President Obama welcomes the 2011 NBA Champions to the East Room
[[nid:111139]]

Back in June, the Dallas Mavericks won their first NBA championship, led by strong play from Dirk Nowitzki.

Today, President Obama hosted the team at the White House.

Headed into the NBA Finals, a lot of folks tried to write the Mavericks off, but Dallas won the series in six games, the President said, because they knew how to play smart:

[These] players got it done because they know how good teams win -- not just by jumping higher or running faster, but by finding the open man, working together, staying mentally tough, being supportive of each other, playing smarter.

"This team really does have a heart that’s the size of Texas," the President said. "This was a remarkable run, a great victory."

President Obama celebrates the Dallas Mavericks (20120109)

President Barack Obama welcomes Coach Rick Carlisle and the NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks to honor the team and their 2011 NBA Championship victory, in the East Room of the White House, Jan. 9, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)