WASHINGTON (CBSDC) - President Barack Obama welcomed the Miami Heat into the White House Monday afternoon to celebrate their 2012 NBA Championship.

The president delivered praise to the team for overcoming adversity, after losing in the Finals the previous year, and gave special acknowledgement to Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, for their advocacy of fatherhood.

“Everybody doing their part is what finally put the Heat over the top,” Obama said. “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.”

“We’re in the White House right now, which is like, like ‘Mama I made it,’” James said, nearly at a loss for words.

James presented Obama with an autographed basketball.

Photos: Miami Heat Visit Obama at White House