Miami Heat forward LeBron James was the overwhelming choice for this year’s NBA Most Valuable Player, but not unanimous.
James won 120 out of the 121 first place votes with the other top spot vote going to New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, who finished third overall. Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant ended up in second. Only Shaquille O’Neal has come as close to sweeping the MVP ballot box, taking 120 out of the 121 possible votes in the 1999-00 season.
The award, which James was presented with on Sunday was voted for by a panel of sports writers and broadcasters who cover the league.
This is James’ fourth MVP title overall, adding to the ones he won in . He joins an elite group of winners such as Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Wilt Camberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as he has won at least four MVP awards. All of James’ accolades have come in a span of five years, something that only Bill Russell has achieved.
James averaged 26.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists this season, leading Miami to a league-best 66-16 record while shooting a career-high 56 percent.
This award is testament to James’ passion to succeed, coming off an NBA championship and a gold medal with Team USA at the London Olympics, he entered this season determined to keep the Miami Heat at the top of the pile, and he has done just that, leading his side to a number one seed in the Eastern Conference and a first round sweep of the Milwaukee Bucks in the Playoffs.
The Heat are favourites to retain their NBA crown.
It’s about more than what is seen on the court though, James’ work ethic this season in training has been praised by his team-mates and coach Eric Spoelstra.
”We’re all in unison: We think he has earned it,” Spoelstra said. ”He has had an even more historic season than last year. The beauty of that, if he does in fact earn it, is the fact that probably most people didn’t necessarily think he could go to a different level, a higher level, after last season. Yet he reinvented himself and showed that he could.”
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