Unstoppable at each end of the court, LeBron James can now boast as the MVP of the NBA.The star of the Cavaliers on Monday won the first prize after a season in which he led Cleveland to a record 66 victories.
The award ceremony was in high school, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, the alma mater of James and where he took his first steps as shown.
James accounted for 109 of the 121 votes cast in the first place to easily overcome Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. James totaled 1172 points in the voting of the media in United States and Canada.
Bryant, winner of last year, got two votes and finished first with 698 points. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat's guard, ranked third with 680 points and was first in seven ballots.
Dwight Howard (328), center of the Orlando Magic, was fourth, followed by Chris Paul (192), escort of the New Orleans Hornets.
From the hand of James, the Cavaliers made the best record in the league.
James is the first player in club history to win the prize. The star of 24 years averaged 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.2 assists this season, his sixth as a professional.
He also finished second in the voting for best defensive player of the year, which would be the most dominant player on both sides since the days of Michael Jordan.
Look at who has won this award _Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dr. J, Oscar Robertson. They opened the way for people like me and Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard and Dwyane Wade, to name a few, James said.
The MVP also recognized the work of their colleagues who attended the ceremony with coach Mike Brown, for helping to achieve the best season in the history of the Cavaliers.
The individual honors come with success as a team, he said. Look at those 14 men who are there, got the prize for them. They put the job.
At 24 years and 106 days in the last day of the regular campaign, James is the youngest player to get the award since Moses Malone (24 years and 16 days) in the 1978-79 season. Wes Unseld was 23 when he won in 1968-69.
I have 24 years. Be here and win the MVP award, never thought I would get this soon. I always dreamed to hold championships with my colleagues, said.
James competed all season for the prize with Bryant and Wade. All three played in the U.S. team that won the gold medal at the Olympics before, and seems to dispute the distinction in all matches.
