CHICAGO -- President Barack Obama made a promise to Derrick Rose, and the reigning MVP is intent on making him keep it.

Obama, an ardent Bulls fan, welcomed the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks to the White House on Monday and joked that they wouldn't be back for a visit next year.

"This was a remarkable run, a great victory," by Dallas, Obama said. "It's too bad that next year, it'll be the Chicago Bulls here."

Informed of Obama's comment after the Bulls' 92-68 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Monday night, Rose was glad to have the support of the commander in chief.

"That's my guy, man. That's my guy," Rose said. "If we make it to the Finals, he promised me that he'd be there, so I'm holding him to that promise."

Rose has met the president on several occasions. He and his teammates were invited to the White House shortly after Obama took office in early 2009. Rose and teammate Joakim Noah also attended a Chicago fundraiser for Obama in April.

The Bulls, who owned the best regular-season record in the NBA last season at 62-20, are off to an 8-2 start.

Nick Friedell covers the Bulls for ESPNChicago.com and ESPN 1000. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.