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Throughout 2020, LeBron James expressed his determined support for the Black Lives Matter movement. He helped convince many people who had never voted to go to the polls. He found more ways to improve the lives of people in his hometown.
And by the way, he won another NBA title.
James’ performance on the court was spectacular again this year. He reaped his fourth NBA title and fourth MVP trophy of the final, as well as putting the Los Angeles Lakers back at the top of basketball.
For his brilliance and leadership on and off the court, The Associated Press announced Saturday that James is the winner of its Male Athlete of the Year award for the fourth time, tying a record.
“I still know what to do on the court and obviously I give my all to this sport,” James told the AP. “But I can make a bigger impact off the court now, even more than on the court. And I want to continue to inspire people with the way I play basketball, but there are many more things I can do outside to cultivate, inspire, unite and empower people. “
The AP has given this award since 1931. In winning it for the fourth time, James equaled Lance Armsrong and Tiger Woods, with the highest number among men. Three women have received the award at least four times: Babe Didrikson achieved it six times, while Serena Williams has achieved it five times and Chris Evert four times.
The AP Athlete of the Year award will be announced this Sunday.
No NBA player scored more points or had more assists than James in 2020. Who has been the other basketball player in history who has led the league in points and assists in the same calendar year? James himself, in 2018.
James also became the first player to be MVP of the NBA Finals with three different teams. In January, he passed Kobe Bryant as the third-highest scoring player in history, a day before the former Lakers star was killed in a helicopter crash.
Bryant: “LeBron you are the best in the universe”
In his latest tweet, Bryant sent James a congratulations.
“He is the best basketball player the universe has ever seen,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said in October. “And even if you think you know, you realize that you didn’t know after living with him every day. You run him, you see his mentality, you see his settings, the way he leads the group.
James totaled 78 points in the vote of a panel of 35 consumers and AP editors. Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City quarterback and the MVP of the last Super Bowl, ranked second with 71 points.
Lewis Hamilton, who equaled a record with his seventh Formula One drivers’ championship, came in a distant third with 14 points.
James also won the AP award for the best male athlete of the year in the last decade. He had also received the award for the most outstanding of the year in 2013, 2016 and 2018.
Michael Jordan, who won the award three times, is the other basketball player who has been recognized more than once by the AP.
“LeBron is one of the greatest leaders in the sport,” said Lakers guard Kyle Kuzma.
And that doesn’t just apply to his performance in basketball.
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