DALLAS -- Jason Terry believes he will be emotional today when he and the rest of the Dallas Mavericks visit the White House and meet President Barack Obama.
It will be Terry's second trip to the White House. He went in 1997 after his Arizona Wildcats captured the NCAA title when Bill Clinton was president.
"I talked to Lamar Odom, and he said when he met [President Obama] he almost broke down into tears, so I can imagine the same thing with myself," Terry said after Sunday's practice. "It's going to be fun -- a great experience.
"I went there in '97 and shook Bill Clinton's hand and it's going to be a tremendous honor to shake the first black president's hand. I'm just extremely humbled and honored on behalf of my family and myself. They will never get this opportunity, so it's an opportunity of a lifetime."
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The White House ceremony will be televised live at 11 a.m. on CNN and NBA TV. The Mavs are taking a party of about 50 to the White House for the ceremony that annually goes to the reigning champions.
Even the injured Jason Kidd is going.
Kidd said: "I'm just there to shake [President Obama's] hand and take a picture."
After today's ceremony at the White House, the Mavs will fly to Detroit where they will play the Pistons on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Kidd will return to Dallas on owner Mark Cuban's private jet so he can continue rehabbing his injured lower back.
Coach Rick Carlisle isn't sure what message he will convey to the president.
"Do I have a speech ready?" Carlisle asked. "No. I'm better off when I wing it."
Terry offered some advice for President Obama.
"Just keep doing what you're doing," Terry said. "A lot of people said a lot of negative things about him since he's been in office, but I believe just him being the president is more positive than anything.
"The first black president ever? Who can say that?"
Scheduling off
This compact 66-game schedule the NBA served up this season has gotten Jason Terry out of his normal routine
"I'm a guy that likes to come in at night and shoot on the road -- shoot at night," Terry said. "But you're just not able to do that with this schedule.
"[Sunday], as you saw after practice with these two days off, we're back in here retooling and hopefully that'll gain some rhythm back."
The Mavs have shot the ball poorly this season. They are 27th in the league in shooting (41.4 percent) and 22nd in 3-point accuracy (30.1 percent).
Dirk Nowitzki is shooting just 43.8 percent from the field and only 20 percent from 3-point range, and is 5 of 22 from the floor with only 16 points in his last two games.
"Our shooting percentage is not where we want it to be," said Terry, who is shooting 43.2 percent from the field. "We take a lot of that on our shoulders -- myself and Dirk.
"So hopefully we can get that to where it needs to be."
Rick Carlisle isn't worried about Nowitzki's lack of offensive production.
"I'm not concerned because he's getting good looks and the ball's in the slots," Carlisle said. "So if he keeps getting those looks I'll be thrilled."
West 'banned'
Delonte West, a free-agent signee in the off-season, won't be going to the White House today.
"I'm banned from going to the White House, so I'm not going to make it,'' West said. "But I'm going home to D.C., I'm just not allowed to go to the White House.
"That's what happens when you make bad decisions in your life. You can't go to the White House."
West was arrested on Sept. 17, 2009, after being pulled over on a traffic violation while riding a three-wheel motorcycle on the Capital Beltway. Police found three loaded weapons in a guitar case. In July 2010, West pleaded guilty to the weapons and traffic charges and was sentenced to two years' probation, an electronic monitoring and community service.
Kidd's availability
Jason Kidd hopes to be ready to play in Friday's home game against Milwaukee.
Kidd suffered a lower back injury Thursday against the San Antonio Spurs and sat out Saturday's game against New Orleans. He's also slated to miss the games Tuesday in Detroit and Wednesday in Boston.
"I'm doing jumping jacks, shooting, all that good stuff," Kidd said. "We'll see.
"Everything is good. Just rehab and a little rest."
Dwain Price, 817-390-7760
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