Throughout 2020, LeBron James expressed his firm support for the Black Lives Matter movement. He helped convince many people who had never voted to go to the polls. He found more 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 again spectacular in 2020. He garnered his fourth NBA title and fourth Finals Most Valuable Player trophy, bringing the Los Angeles Lakers back to the top of basketball.
For his genius and leadership on and off the pitch, The Associated Press announced on Saturday that James is the winner of the Male Athlete of the Year award for the fourth time, equaling a record.
“I still know what to do on the field and of course I give my very best for this sport,” James told the AP. “But now I can make a bigger impact outside the track, even more than on the track. And I want to keep inspiring people with the way I play basketball, but there are many more things I can do outside to cultivate, inspire, unite and empower people. “
The AP award was first awarded in 1931. James’ fourth win was equal to Lance Armstrong and Tiger Woods for 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 four.
The AP Sportswoman of the Year 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 leading the league in points and assists in the same calendar year? James himself, in 2018.
James also became the first player to be an NBA Finals MVP for three franchises. He surpassed Kobe Bryant for number 3 on the all-time leaderboard, and did so the day before Bryant died in a helicopter crash last January; 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, you don’t know until you’re around him every day, you train him, you watch his mind, you watch his adjustments, watch the way he 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 Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes finished second with 71 points. Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton finished third with 14 points.
James, also known as the AP male athlete of the past decade, also won the annual AP award in 2013, 2016 and 2018. Three-time winner Michael Jordan is the only other basketball player to receive the AP award more than once.
“He’s one of the great sports leaders,” Lakers security guard Kyle Kuzma said of James.
This applies both inside and outside the court.
James’s More Than A Vote organization drew more than 42,000 volunteers to polling stations for the November election, helped some regain their right to vote, and lobbied for young and black voter participation.
“The tragic death of George Floyd, everyone had the chance to see it and hear the story of Breonna Taylor, her tragic story and Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia … my people have had enough and I have had enough” James said. “That’s why I called for action and with my platform I believed I could get people to join me.”
As always, he was also focused on his hometown of Akron, Ohio.
The I PROMISE school which opened in 2018 now has more than 450 students in grades three through six. When the school closed due to the pandemic, James and his team arranged for the students to have hot meals at home, including full Thanksgiving meals. This year, an affordable housing project for 50 families has started. And this month, plans were announced for House Three Thirty (a nod to the Akron area code), detailing how James will offer things like accessible financial health programs for families, job training, and a community meeting space.
“The pandemic has affected us all,” said James. “Regardless of your situation, no matter where you are in life, it has been difficult. And the first thing that came to mind, besides the end of the season when the pandemic hit, was, ‘What am I going to do for my boys in 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 turns 36 on Wednesday, has not ruled out playing for USA Basketball again at the Tokyo Olympics in the team that will be coached by Gregg Popovich.
“It’s still possible,” said James. “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, the people at my foundation, the sponsors who continue to support us and what we do and what we strive for,” said James. “It’s incredible. I can’t just sit here and say that the minute we stopped in March, I thought this was all going to happen and we would be at this point in December.”