This Day In Cavs History: 2016 NBA Champions Visit White House

Seven years ago, the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrated their 2016 NBA championship in the capital of the United States with President Barack Obama.

Throughout the 2023-24 NBA season, Spencer Davies is going to turn back the clock to milestone moments and important dates in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ past with “This Day In Cavs History.” Whether they’ve been good, bad or sad, these events were significant in the franchise’s 53-year existence.

The Cavaliers' visit to the White House seven years ago will never be forgotten. It was a moment of celebration, laughter, triumph and relief all at once. 

That previous summer, Cleveland defeated the Golden State Warriors 4-3 in the NBA Finals to win the city's first major sports championship since 1964. 

LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love led the way as the wine-and-gold's Big Three over the reigning-champion Warriors, who had Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green running the show. 

Without getting into too much detail about the series, let's just say Golden State had a 3-1 lead. There was a block, a shot and a stop — and the rest was history.

Nov 10, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; President Barack Obama (M) poses holding a gift jersey with Vice President Joe Biden (M-L) and members of the Cleveland Cavaliers at an event honoring the 2016 NBA world champion Cavaliers on the South Lawn at the White House / Geoff Burke-USA TODAY NETWORK

To recognize the Cavaliers' accomplishments, Barack Obama, President of The United States of America at that time, invited the organization to Washington, D.C.

"We finally said it: 'World Champion' and 'Cleveland' in the same sentence," Obama said during a speech with the Cavs behind him on the steps. "This city has been through a lot...But through it all, Cleveland was always 'Believeland.''

Obama even joked around with JR Smith about having a shirt on (he didn't when the team landed in Cleveland after Game 7). He also referred to LeBron as "one of the greatest players of all time."

Richard Jefferson documented the trip on Snapchat. Jordan McRae took a picture with Michelle Obama, the First Lady. To wrap the visit, the Cavs did the trendy Mannequin Challenge inside of the White House itself.

It was a truly special day that the franchise will cherish forever.