‘‘Everybody doing their part, is what finally put the Heat over the top,’’ Obama said, as he welcomed the team to the White House Monday to celebrate their victory.
The Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games in the NBA Finals last June.
Miller was singled out by the president for the 23 points he scored in the NBA Finals on June 21.
The Mitchell native made seven of eight three-pointers as he helped Miami win the title in the deciding Game 5.
The president teased Miller at Monday’s celebration, saying:
“Mike Miller could barely walk. Mike, you look better now (laughter). You looked broke down last year, but still hit seven three-pointers in the final game. I don’t know how he did it because he could not walk. He looked like an old man.”
The president also recognized the franchise’s work off the court. He thanked them for supporting military service members at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Obama said one of the things he’s proudest of is that many of the team members— including LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade— ‘‘take their roles as fathers seriously.’’
‘‘For all the young men out there who are looking up to them all the time, for them to see somebody who cares about their kids and is there for them day in and day out, that’s a good message to send,’’ Obama said.
Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said the team hopefully will serve as an inspiration to the nation of what can be done ‘‘when you come together and sacrifice your egos for a greater goal’’ and ‘‘hard-hat work ethic.’’
James, who presented Obama with an autographed basketball, said the team including members that hail from Illinois, Texas, Michigan, Ohio and South Dakota were honored to be in the executive mansion.
‘‘We’re in the White House right now, which is like, like ‘mama I made it,’ ’’ James said, as the audience laughed and cheered.
The crowd of well-wishers included actress Gabrielle Union, U.N. ambassador Susan Rice, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, and Congresswomen Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Frederica Wilson. The Heat last visited the White House after winning the 2006 title.
Miami is currently leading the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference with a 28-13 record. The Heat is at Brooklyn at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
American News managing news-sports editor John Papendick contributed to this report.
