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Dallas Mavericks Honored at the White House

The Dallas Mavericks were recognized by President Obama on Monday for winning the 2011 NBA Championship.

Dallas Mavericks' head coach Mark Cuban with President Obama
 at the White House on Monday. Photo/CD Brown.
The Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat, 105-95, in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, winning their first NBA title in franchise history.

"Some called them the Bad News Bears", joked President Obama who predicted that his beloved Chicago Bulls would be standing in the Mavs' place next year.

The president continued to quote the 'naysayers' who had counted the team as down and out.

"Some said Jason Kidd was too old. Some said Dirk Nowitzky was too slow."



Looking around for Dirk, President Obama said to a room full of laughs, "They did say that Dirk. I'm sorry".

Nowitzky may been labeled slow, but he more than made up for it - scoring 48 points in the win in Game 6 over the favored, and newly assembled Miami Heat.

The newly acquired Vince Carter and former LA Laker, Lamar Odom were also in attendance.

"It's an honor", said Carter on getting the chance to visit the White House. He described the opportunity as "second to none".

The Mavs currently rank 'second' in the Southwest division with a 4-5 record.

No worries for Vince Carter who said his team is "doing fine".

"We're right in the mix of things", Carter said. "Once we start gelling together we're going to be okay."
While the visit to the White House was Carter's first experience, it Lamar Odom's second. He visited the White House as an LA Laker, along with former teammate Kobe Bryant and again as a Dallas Maverick.

"It's always great", said Odom. "It's a tremendous opportunity to be around tradition. It's a blessing."

The Mavericks also visited with wounded warriors while visiting at the White House as part of the team's off-the-court community service efforts.

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