President Obama welcomed the San Antonio Spurs to the White House on Monday, (January 12) to honor the team and their 2014 NBA Championship. San Antonio delivered a decisive end to LeBron James’ two-year reign atop the basketball world by routing the Miami Heat 104-87 in the NBA finals to win the series four games to one.
“Since drafting Tim Duncan in 1997 they have won five titles. Tim has now won titles 15 years apart. Only the second player in history to win titles in three different decades. Tim and Tony (Parker) and Manu (Ginobli) have won more titles than any trio in NBA history,” Obama said singling out the team’s star center.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who had coached Duncan to each of his titles, joined Phil Jackson, Red Auerbach, John Kundla and Pat Riley as the only coaches with five NBA crowns.
“Mostly I would like to say thank you to the President and all the people here for having us. It truly is an honor to be here and for me the most satisfying part is to be able to be with all these guys. They truly have gotten over themselves and they care about the group more than the individual, Popovich said before the team presented a Spurs jersey and basketball signed by the team.
Obama, a rabid Chicago Bulls fan, joked about his teams championship drought while has occupied the Oval Office.
“Now I admit it, I’m a Bulls fan. It’s never easy celebrating a non-Bulls team in the White House. That’s all I’ve been able to do. (laughter) So far.But even I have to admit the Spurs are hard to dislike. First of all they’re old and for an old guy it makes me feel good. You know. Where Tim? Tim’s got some grey, you know some little sprinkles around here.”
The Spurs are carrying a winning record into the New Year but currently are sitting in fifth place in the league’s powerful Southwest Conference. San Antonio will take on the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.
NBC/Reuters