President Obama, an avid basketball player and fan, called the head coach of the NBA championship team Miami Heat to say congratulations and to invite the squad to the White House. Obama called Heat coach Erik Spoelstra yesterday from Air Force One.

“Aboard Air Force One en route to Tampa, the President telephoned Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra to congratulate him on his team’s victory in the NBA Finals,” Josh Earnest, White House principal deputy press secretary, said in a statement. “He complimented the performance of the players and coaches noting that the team seemed to get stronger as the playoffs wore on. He asked Coach Spoelstra to tell the team that he looks forward to celebrating their NBA championship with them at the White House.”