LeBron James speaks after presenting President Barack Obama with a basketball signed by the NBA champions Miami Heat basketball team in the East Room at the White House in Washington, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Miami Heat players, including Dwyane Wade (C), LeBron James (R), and Chris Bosh (2L) watch as U.S. President Barack Obama (L) greets guests during an event to honor the NBA champion Miami Heat in the East Room at the White House on January 28, 2013 in Washington, DC. President Barack Obama congratulated the 2012 NBA champions for claiming their third NBA Championship by beating the Boston Celtics. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
President Barack Obama (R) stands with LeBron James (L) during an event to honor the NBA champion Miami Heat in the East Room at the White House on January 28, 2013 in Washington, DC. President Barack Obama congratulated the 2012 NBA champions for claiming their third NBA Championship by beating the Boston Celtics. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
President Barack Obama (2nd-R) stands with Miami Heat players, including Dwyane Wade (L), LeBron James (2nd-L), Mario Chalmers (C) and Head coach Erik Spoelstra, (R) during an event to honor the NBA champion Miami Heat in the East Room at the White House on January 28, 2013 in Washington, DC. President Barack Obama congratulated the 2012 NBA champions for claiming their third NBA Championship by beating the Boston Celtics. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
President Barack Obama (R) is given a ball from LeBron James (L) during an event to honor the NBA champion Miami Heat in the East Room at the White House on January 28, 2013 in Washington, DC. President Barack Obama congratulated the 2012 NBA champions for claiming their third NBA Championship by beating the Boston Celtics. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
President Barack Obama (R) shakes hands with Dwyane Wade as he welcomes the NBA Champion Miami Heat to the White House to honor the team and their 2012 NBA Championship victory at the White House in Washington, DC, January 28, 2013. (AFP PHOTO/Jim WATSON)
Miami Heat players, Dwyane Wade (L), LeBron James (R) attend an event to honor the NBA champion Miami Heat in the East Room at the White House on January 28, 2013 in Washington, DC. President Barack Obama congratulated the 2012 NBA champions for claiming their third NBA Championship by beating the Boston Celtics. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is honoring the Miami Heat for winning the 2012 NBA Championship title after falling short just a year before.
Obama says every member “doing their part” is what put the Heat over the top, 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.
The president also recognized the franchise for supporting military service members and said he was proud that many of them including LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade “take their roles as fathers seriously.”
The crowd of well-wishers included actress Gabrielle Union, U.N. ambassador Susan Rice and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan. The Heat last visited the White House after winning in 2006.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
