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SALT LAKE CITY — LeBron James has been awarded the NBA's Most Valuable Player award for his play in the 2012-13 season.
"I try to be the best player on the court every night when I step on the floor," James said Sunday during the MVP ceremony at American Airlines Arena.
James led the Miami Heat to a 66-16 regular season record, including a 30-2 record after the All-Star break and a 27-game winning streak.
While James and his Heat teammates have spoken that the ultimate goal is to defend their title by winning the NBA Finals, James did have a regular season that was magnificent by any standard.
Here are three notes that stand out from an incredible season.
Playing like a legend
There are players in the NBA Hall of Fame that almost deserve a Hall of Fame spot within the Hall of Fame. Players whose names — Bird, Magic, Jordan, Russell, Kareem, Chamberlain, West — will forever be associated with greatness.
Multiple MVP winners
| Player | Awards |
|---|---|
| Kareem Abdul-Jabber | 6 |
| Michael Jordan | 5 |
| Bill Russell | 5 |
| Wilt Chamberlain | 4 |
| LeBron James | 4 |
The time has come to include LeBron James among those players.
There are 12 players who have won multiple MVP awards in NBA history — only Kareem Abdul-Jabber, Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, and Wilt Chamberlain have more than four. LeBron has earned his four faster than anyone else, and has the potential, at age 28, to earn more over the remainder of his career.
Statistical wonder
Since 1979, only three players have finished the season averaging 26.8 points, 8 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game — Larry Bird in 1986-87, and Michael Jordan in 1988-89.
LeBron James is the third, and has now accomplished something that Jordan nor Bird did in those historic seasons. Neither Bird nor Jordan won the MVP award — that title was given to Magic Johnson, who led the showtime Lakers to a NBA Finals ring in '86, while Isiah Thomas and the Pistons won in '89.
Here is James' per game stat line for the 2012-13 season, a line that he made look easy almost every night.
| Season | Age | Tm | G | GS | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [2012-13](http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jamesle01/gamelog/2013/?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool) | 28 | [MIA](http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIA/2013.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool) | 76 | 76 | 37.9 | 10.1 | 17.8 | .565 | 1.4 | 3.3 | .406 | 5.3 | 7.0 | .753 | 8.0 | 7.3 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 26.8 |
| Career | 765 | 764 | 39.7 | 9.9 | 20.1 | .490 | 1.3 | 4.0 | .337 | 6.5 | 8.6 | .747 | 7.3 | 6.9 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 1.9 | 27.6 |
A criticism of LeBron after he signed with the Miami Heat three years ago was that too often he would defer to Dwayne Wade, who had already won a NBA Finals ring in 2006-07. Critics referred to James as the Robin to Wade's Batman, belittling both the NBA players and the comic book heroes.
Not anymore.
James led his team in field goal's made, points scored, rebounding, assists, steals, and minutes played. No other MVP candidate — Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, or Carmelo Anthony — led their team in more than four.
James often was left defending the best player in crunch time, was the focal point on offense, and had the ball in his hands when time was running out.
Transcendent? Magnificent? Resilient? Legendary?
