On Thursday, LeBron James made his third White House appearance as a NBA Champion; twice with the Miami Heat (2012, 2014) and on Thursday with his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers. James joined his team on the South Lawn (previous honors took place in the East Room) of the White House as President Obama honored the 2015 Champions after having won their first-ever NBA title in the franchise’s history.
Said President Obama, "They start winning their first 10 games in the playoffs, setting record after record for three-point shooting. But obviously what this all comes down to is a team that, for the first time in NBA history, comes back from being down 3-1 in the finals -- the first team in history to dig themselves out of a hole like that."
Obama gave his synopsis of Game 7 calling the comeback, "remarkable."
"The comeback was remarkable, And you learn about people when they’re down against a historically good Warriors team", said the president. "Cavs won Games 5 and 6 by double digits. You had both LeBron James and Kyrie Irving becoming the first duo ever to score 40 points apiece in a Finals game. And then, in Game 7, the Cavs fall behind on the road, only to fight back and lock up the title with an unbelievable two minutes. There was “The Block” what LeBron has said was the defining play of his career. “The Shot” by Kyrie putting the Cavs up five. “The Stop” by Kevin Love... I hadn’t seen defense like that."
Cavs in the Community
The president also commented on the work the Cavs have done in their community.
"And that’s why the Cavs have always given back to their fans and the community that’s been so loyal to them. Over the last 22 years, they’ve given more than $23 million to local charities. And more than just the money players and coaches made about 200 visits annually to schools, hospitals, food kitchens, and more, including assisting educational programs that reach more than 100,000 kids in Northeast Ohio."
[See Cavs visit vets]
The franchise has also supported the Obama adminstration's My Brother’s Keeper, Let’s Move! and Joining Forces initiatives. James has committed to paying tuition to over 1,100 deserving Cleveland youth.
The 6-1 Cavaliers are in town to take on the 2-5 Washington Wizards Friday at Verizon Center.
In this vid, James talks about meeting their rival Wizards.
Cavs Coach on Meeting POTUS
Tyronn Lue, head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, was all smiles meeting the first African American president, and he bought his family to experience the occasion.
“You grow up as a kid and growing up in the atmosphere and environment that we grew up in and seeing the first black President and being alive for that and how much it meant for my grandmother and my mom and my family", Lue said.
Flanked by reporters after the team's visit, Lue shared the importance of him meeting the President Obama.
"And to get to experience that and to see him in office and to meet him, its an unbelievable feeling. To bring our players here to see that, to experience that.
Lue said that since the team's make up is nearly 90% African American it meant a lot.
"We have a crazy group, we have a funny group and to see how happy they were and how they enjoyed it this moment, it just really means a lot to me and it shows how much it meant to them", said Lue.
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| Kevin Love presents a Cavs jersey to President Obama. Photo/CD Brown. |
Obama gave his synopsis of Game 7 calling the comeback, "remarkable."
"The comeback was remarkable, And you learn about people when they’re down against a historically good Warriors team", said the president. "Cavs won Games 5 and 6 by double digits. You had both LeBron James and Kyrie Irving becoming the first duo ever to score 40 points apiece in a Finals game. And then, in Game 7, the Cavs fall behind on the road, only to fight back and lock up the title with an unbelievable two minutes. There was “The Block” what LeBron has said was the defining play of his career. “The Shot” by Kyrie putting the Cavs up five. “The Stop” by Kevin Love... I hadn’t seen defense like that."
Cavs in the Community
The president also commented on the work the Cavs have done in their community.
"And that’s why the Cavs have always given back to their fans and the community that’s been so loyal to them. Over the last 22 years, they’ve given more than $23 million to local charities. And more than just the money players and coaches made about 200 visits annually to schools, hospitals, food kitchens, and more, including assisting educational programs that reach more than 100,000 kids in Northeast Ohio."
[See Cavs visit vets]
The franchise has also supported the Obama adminstration's My Brother’s Keeper, Let’s Move! and Joining Forces initiatives. James has committed to paying tuition to over 1,100 deserving Cleveland youth.
The 6-1 Cavaliers are in town to take on the 2-5 Washington Wizards Friday at Verizon Center.
In this vid, James talks about meeting their rival Wizards.
Cavs Coach on Meeting POTUS
Tyronn Lue, head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, was all smiles meeting the first African American president, and he bought his family to experience the occasion. “You grow up as a kid and growing up in the atmosphere and environment that we grew up in and seeing the first black President and being alive for that and how much it meant for my grandmother and my mom and my family", Lue said.
Flanked by reporters after the team's visit, Lue shared the importance of him meeting the President Obama.
"And to get to experience that and to see him in office and to meet him, its an unbelievable feeling. To bring our players here to see that, to experience that.
Lue said that since the team's make up is nearly 90% African American it meant a lot.
"We have a crazy group, we have a funny group and to see how happy they were and how they enjoyed it this moment, it just really means a lot to me and it shows how much it meant to them", said Lue.
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