Associated Press
LeBron James went to the NBA finals for the eighth consecutive year. He changed addresses again, leaving his Cleveland home a second time, this time to join the Los Angeles Lakers in the biggest move of free agency over the summer.
He remained arguably the dominant player in the basketball, adding even more glitz to a legacy that reached epic status long ago.
It was, by any measure, a fantastic year for James. And even without a title, it may have been his most significant year.
For the third time, James has been selected as The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year – after 2018 saw him continue to excel on the court, open the “I Promise” school for at-risk children in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, and further use his voice as an activist who bristled at being told to “shut up and dribble.”
“I would describe it as a success because I was able to inspire so many people throughout the year,” James said. “I got to go back to China, to Paris, to Berlin, I opened up a school. And all these kids I was able to see, all over the world and in my hometown, I was able to inspire, to make them think they can be so much more than what they think they’re capable of being. That was my outlook for 2018.”
James received 78 points in balloting by U.S. editors and news directors announced Thursday, while Red Sox star Mookie Betts was second with 46. Alex Ovechkin of the Capitals was third, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was fourth and Triple Crown winner Justify was fifth.
On the court, James remained dominant. He averaged 28.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 8.4 assists in 2018 between his time with the Cavaliers and Lakers, playing in 102 games through Thursday.
“In addition to being on everyone’s short list as one of the league’s all-time greatest players, LeBron is among the hardest working players and is a thoughtful and impactful leader,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said.
James becomes the third man to win the award at least three times, joining Lance Armstrong (a four-time winner from 2002 through 2005), Tiger Woods (1997, 1999, 2000 and 2006) and Michael Jordan (1991, 1992 and 1993).
Armstrong won the Tour de France in each of his years as the AP recipient – though he was later stripped of the titles in a doping scandal.
Woods won at least one major and was the PGA’s Player of the Year in all four of his AP-winning years. Jordan’s three awards coincided with his first three NBA championships in Chicago. And James’ first two times getting the award were in 2013 and 2016, years where he won an NBA title.
James’ 2018 included no championship, no scoring title, no MVP award. But some closest to James still considered it to be his finest year yet.
“I like to talk about generations,” said Miami guard Dwyane Wade. “There will never be another Michael Jordan because he was the first to be a global superstar, the first to take the NBA to another level. There will never be another LeBron James, and a lot of it is from what he’s done away from the game. Him understanding his voice has been so refreshing and so important to the culture and his friends.”
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