King James crowned MVP
NEW YORK (Reuters) - LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers was named NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) on Monday, accepting the honor in the high school gym that was the launch pad for his career.
James, who averaged 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists this season to lead the team to a franchise record 66 wins, received the award at St Vincent-St Mary high school in Akron, Ohio where he first shot to prominence as a teenager before jumping directly to the NBA.
"This school helped me become the man I am today," he said after becoming at 24 years and 125 days the youngest player to win the award which is voted by sportswriters and broadcasters.
"You would never think someone from Akron, Ohio would be able to do the things we did growing up and what I'm trying to continue to do as a basketball player and a person."
'King' James has already played six seasons in the NBA and in two Olympics, helping the U.S. to gold in Beijing last year.
James received 109 out of a possible 121 first-place votes to beat two of his U.S. team mates, last year's MVP Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade.
He becomes the first member of the Cavaliers to claim the honor.
Taken with the number one pick in the 2003 draft by Cleveland, James has amassed a stack of honors including Rookie of the Year and two All-Star MVP awards.
TEAM SUCCESS
However, it is team success the muscular 6-foot-9, 260-pound forward says he treasures most and he has his sights set on adding an NBA championship to his collection this year.
Led by an inspired James the Cavaliers swept past the Detroit Pistons in the opening round of the playoffs and are preparing to host the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday in Game One of the Eastern Conference best-of-seven semi-finals.
"To be voted Most Valuable Player of the NBA is unbelievable," said James. "Individual accolades, I never really get high on them.
"This is like a team award. Individual accolades come when team success is happening.
"I'm 24 and I'm sitting up here receiving this award. I never thought it would happen this fast.
"I never dreamed about being the MVP, I always dreamed about winning championships and celebrating with team mates, but if I sit up here and say I don't enjoy this award I would be lying to you."
A gifted athlete, James has impressed coaches and team mates with a drive and relentless work ethic that has made him a dominant force at both ends of the court, leading the league this year in triple-doubles.
"There is really no doubt LeBron James is the most valuable player in the entire NBA and the entire world as far as we are concerned," said Cleveland's majority owner Dan Gilbert.
"He really is, to a lot of people, a most valuable person."
(Writing by Steve Keating in Toronto, editing by Tony Jimenez)
