Throughout 2020, Lebron James expressed his resolute support for the Black Lives Matter movement. It helped convince many people who had never voted to go to the polls. He found more ways to improve people’s lives in his hometown.
And by the way, he won another NBA title.
James ’performance on the court was spectacular again in 2020. He picked up his fourth NBA title and his fourth trophy for Most Valuable Player of the Finals, helping to place the Los Angeles Lakers back to the top of basketball.
For his brilliance and leadership on and off the track, The Associated Press announced on Saturday that James is the winner of his Man of the Year Athlete of the Year award for the fourth time, setting a record.
“I still know what to do on the court and obviously I give my all to this sport,” James told AP. “But I can make a bigger impact off the court now, even more than on the board. And I want to keep inspiring people with the way I play basketball, but there’s a lot more that I can to go out to cultivate, inspire, unite and empower people “.
The AP Prize was first awarded in 1931. James’ fourth victory tied Lance Armstrong and Tiger Woods by the most men. Three women have won the AP award at least four times; Babe Didrikson won six times, Serena Williams won five and Chris Evert 4:00.
The AP Female Athlete of the Year will be announced on Sunday.
No NBA player scored more points or had more assists in 2020 than James. The only other player in your life who 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 for three franchises. He overtook Kobe Bryant by No. 3 on the all-time roster, and he did so a day before Bryant died last January in a helicopter crash; the last tweet Bryant sent was a congratulatory message to James.
“He’s the best player the basketball universe has ever seen,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said of James in October. “And if you think you know it, you don’t know it until you’re close to it every day, you’re training it, you’re seeing its mind, you’re seeing the parameters, seeing how it leads the group. You think you know, but you don’t know. “
James finished with 78 points in the vote from a panel of 35 AP clients and editors. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and current Most Valuable Super Bowl player Patrick Mahomes finished second with 71 points. Seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton finished in a distant third place with 14 points.
James, also named the Male Athlete of the Last Decade by AP, also won the AP Annual Award in 2013, 2016 and 2018. Three-time winner Michael Jordan is the only other basketball player to have won. the AP award more than once.
“He’s one of the great sports leaders,” Lakers guard Kyle Kuzma said of James.
This applies on and off the track.
James’s More Than A Vote organization attracted more than 42,000 volunteers to work at polling stations for the November election, helped some regain their voting rights and lobbied for young voters and blacks participated.
“The tragic death of George Floyd, everyone had a chance to see this and also hear the story of Breonna Taylor, her tragic story and Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia … my people have had enough and I have had enough.” , said James. “That’s why I called to action and with my platform, I thought I could get people to join me.”
He also focused, as always, on his hometown of Akron, Ohio.
The I PROMISE school that opened in 2018 now has more than 450 third- to sixth-grade students. When the pandemic closed the school, James and his team made sure the students received hot meals at home, even full Thanksgiving meals. This year an affordable housing project for 50 families was started. And this month, plans for the House of Thirty (a nod to the Akron area code) were announced, detailing how James will offer things like affordable family financial health programs, job training and a space of community meeting.
“The pandemic has affected us all,” James said. “No matter your situation, no matter where you are in life, it’s been difficult. And the first thing I thought about, in addition to the stoppage of the season, when the pandemic hit was’ What will I do for my boys at my school? ‘”
James is already looking to 2021. The Lakers hope to be contenders again. His remake of “Space Jam” is expected to be released this summer. And James, who will turn 36 on Wednesday, has not ruled out playing for USA Basketball at the Tokyo Olympics on the team that will be coached by Gregg Popovich.
“It’s still possible,” James said. “It’s not a 0% chance, I’ll say it. I love Coach Pop.”
But as 2020 draws to a close, James allowed himself a moment to reflect on a year like no other.
“It’s a tribute to the people I work with, to the people at my foundation, to the sponsors who continue to support us and what we do and for what we strive for,” James said. “It’s amazing. I can’t sit here and say that by the time we stopped in March I thought all of this would happen and we would be at this point in December.”