Throughout 2020, LeBron James has expressed strong support for the Black Lives Matter movement. He helped convince many people who had never voted to go to the polls. He found several ways to improve the lives of people in his hometown.
And by the way, he won another NBA title.
James’ performance on the field was spectacular again in 2020. He collected the fourth NBA title and the fourth trophy of the most valuable players in the Finals, helping the Los Angeles Lakers return to the top of basketball.
For his brilliance and leadership on and off the field, The Associated Press announced on Saturday that James is the winner of the male athlete of the year award for the fourth time, breaking a record.
“I still know what to do on the field and obviously I give my all for this sport,” James told AP. “But now they can have a bigger impact on the field, even more than on the field. And I want to continue to inspire people with the way I play basketball, but there are many more things I can do out there to cultivate, inspire, unite and empower people. “
The AP Award was first given in 1931. James’ fourth victory equaled Lance Armstrong and Tiger Woods for most men. Three women have won the AP award at least four times; Babe Didrikson has won six times, Serena Williams has won five and Chris Evert has won four.
The female athlete of the year AP will be announced on Sunday.
No NBA player has 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 helps in the same calendar year? James himself, in 2018.
James also became the first player to be an MVP in the NBA Finals for three franchises. He overtook Kobe Bryant for 3rd place on the all-time scoring list and did so the day before Bryant died in a helicopter crash last January; Bryant’s last tweet 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, you don’t know until you’re around him every day, you train him, you follow his mind, you follow his adjustments, you follow the way he leads the group. You think you know, but you don’t know. “
James finished with 78 points in the vote of a group of 35 AP clients and editors. Kansas City Chiefs and current Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes finished second with 71 points. Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton was a distant third with 14 points.
James, also named AP male athlete of the past decade, also won the AP’s annual award in 2013, 2016 and 2018. Three times, winner Michael Jordan is the only other basketball player to have won the AP award more than once time.
“He’s one of the great sports leaders,” Lakers guard Kyle Kuzma said of James.
This applies inside and outside the field.
James’ More Than A Vote attracted more than 42,000 volunteers to work in the polls for the November election, helped some regain their voting rights, and lobbied for the participation of young and black voters.
“The tragic death of George Floyd, everyone had the chance to see this and hear the story of Breonna Taylor, her tragic story and that of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia … my people are tired and I am here,” said James. “That’s why I called for 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, opened in 2018, now has over 450 students in grades three through six. When the school was closed due to the pandemic, James and his team made sure that students received warm meals at home, including full Thanksgiving meals. This year, an affordable housing project for 50 families was launched. Also this month, plans for the House of Thirty (an approval of the Akron area code) were announced, detailing how James will provide things like affordable family financial health programs, training and a community meeting space. .
“The pandemic has affected us all,” James said. “Regardless of your situation, no matter where you are in life, it was difficult. And the first thing I thought of, in addition to stopping the season, was when the pandemic was “What am I going to do for my boys in school?”
James is already looking at 2021. The Lakers hope to be competitors again. His remake of “Space Jam” is expected to be released this summer. And James, who turns 36 on Wednesday, did not rule out playing basketball in the US Olympic Games in Tokyo again for the team that will be coached by Gregg Popovich.
“It’s still possible,” James said. “It’s not a 0% chance, I’ll say. I like coach Pop.”
But as 2020 draws to a close, James has allowed himself a moment to reflect on a year like no other.
“It’s a tribute to the people I work with, the people at my foundation, the sponsors who continue to support us and what we do and what we strive for,” James said. “It’s incredible. I can’t just sit here and say that when we stopped in March we thought all this was going to happen and that we would be in December at this time.