President Joe Biden welcomed the 2021 NBA champions, the Milwaukee Bucks, to the White House on Monday, rekindling a tradition that was temporarily halted during the previous administration.

The Bucks are the first NBA team to visit the White House since the Cleveland Cavaliers visited at the end of the Obama administration in 2016. 

"You represented yourselves and your families, your organizations and a great American city by staying true to who you are," President Biden told the Bucks players on Monday. "You always believed."

"Last year, as a team, you took a stand for justice and peace in the wake of Jacob Blake's shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and you've gotten people engaged ... in the vote, in the political process," the president later added. "I just want to thank you."

Speaking after the president, Bucks' co-owner Mark Lasry joked that the Bucks would like to be back at the White House next year, or even more years after that.

"It's been a real honor for us," Lasry, who was at one point eyed as U.S. ambassador to France under former President Barack Obama, said. "You know, what the hell? Why don't we come back for the next four years. We'll just keep coming back. You know what? Let's do it for eight years."

"I think that's a good idea," Biden said.

Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo thanked his family and Bucks fans, and he credited consistent, hard work as the key to success.

"If you dedicate yourself, waking up every single day and try[ing] to get better in anything you do, in anything you love," he said. "I've done that my whole life, and I'm in the White House. This is awesome."

"I think you won the gene pool," President Biden joked earlier to Antetokounmpo, talking about him and his four brothers, who are also successful basketball players and athletes. "I know your mom is so proud of you and your dad is looking down, watching over."

No NBA or WNBA team visited the White House during former President Donald Trump’s four years in office. Many players and coaches in the NBA, including stars LeBron James, Steph Curry, coaches Gregg Popovich and Steve Kerr, were outspoken critics of the Republican president, while WNBA stars and coaches were widely praised for their social justice activism, including their widespread support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

The WNBA’s Seattle Storm visited the White House in August to celebrate their 2020 championship.

"It's amazing. It's friggin' amazing," Antetokounmpo said in a video posted on the NBA's Twitter account. "From Sepolia to The Oval Office," he added, in reference to the neighborhood of Athens, Greece, where he grew up.

Antetokounmpo, the regning NBA Finals MVP, posted a video to his Instagram page, captioned “practicing our introductions,” in reference to meeting the president.

“Mr. President! How you doing, Mr. President?" said Antetokounmpo, also known as the "Greek Freak," in the video. "Thank you for having us in Washington, D.C."

“We are excited and honored for the privilege of being invited to The White House,” Bucks Peter Feigin said in a statement. “Winning the NBA Championship was an incredible experience for our organization, the city, the state and Bucks fans throughout the world. We are grateful for the opportunity to meet President Biden and to be recognized for our achievement.”

The Bucks, coming off a loss to the Washington Wizards on Sunday, won the 2021 NBA title in July after beating the Phoenix Suns in six games. 

After their White House visit Monday, the Bucks will travel to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers Tuesday.