LeBron MVP

[gaKNOW!blee]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2009/news/story?id=4135263

[Cloud786]

Well deserved. Good job King James now go get that RING!!

[ElNono]

Well deserved. Good job King James now go get that RING!!

He's a king... he doesn't need to go get it... Stern will gladly bring it to him...

[UltimA]

Well done Lebron.

[Steve Kerr]

I better win executive of the year.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

I better win executive of the year.

fuck off.

[turiaf for president]

well deserved and wont be the last

[resistanze]

Should be his second.

[IronMexican]

He earned it.

[JoeTait75]

Nice, nice. First MVP for a Cleveland athlete since Brian Sipe in 1980. :wow

Now back to the business at hand...

[lefty]

Well deserved :king:toast


Too bad the Lakers will kick their asses in the Finals

[Yuushi12]

Well deserved :king:toast


Too bad the Lakers will kick their asses in the Finals

+1 if kobe will get back to his game sorry cavs fans but Lakers are just so good when kobe is in his game

[TheProfessor]

Not saying the NBA dictates outcomes of games, but you have to imagine they're desperate for LeBron to win a title this year. He's their future cash cow, and his rep already took a hit when the Spurs swept in '07.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

He did earn it this year. Yeah you can say he needed Mo Williams but I don't see any other player capable of leading his team to anywhere near 60 wins if Mo Williams is the 2nd best player.

[Ignorant Spurs fan]

I don't see how you don't get it to Parker.

Three rings speaks for itself, how many does Lebron have again?

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Three rings speaks for itself, how many does Lebron have again?

A bunch if he got to play with the best power forward of all time his entire career.

[Ignorant Spurs fan]

A bunch if he got to play with the best power forward of all time his entire career.

What does a Sun fan know about basketball? How many titles do you have?

[LeCrab]

It's been a long journey I've travelled to get to this point but I'm happy. I almost can't believe it. Somebody pinch me. Nevermind I'll pinch myself. Now let's get that crabionship!

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

What does a Sun fan know about basketball? How many titles do you have?

lol Spurs fan acting like the Spurs titles are his own achievement.

I have the same amount of titles as you have to answer your question.

[Xylus]

What does a Sun fan know about basketball? How many titles do you have?

Ignorant Spurs fan is my favorite Spurs fan of all. :lol

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Ignorant Spurs fan is my favorite Spurs fan of all. :lol

He's probably a BUMP troll that I should have been smart enough to ignore.

[dirk4mvp]

Not saying the NBA dictates outcomes of games, but you have to imagine they're desperate for LeBron to win a title this year. He's their future cash cow, and his rep already took a hit when the Spurs swept in '07.

That's retarded. You're retarded for posting this.

[TampaDude]

LeBron was just shooting some shots...just winning an MVP award he was supposed to win....no surprises there... :D

[Ignorant Spurs fan]

lol Spurs fan acting like the Spurs titles are his own achievement.

I have the same amount of titles as you have to answer your question.

Really? Cause last time I checked you have zero.

Sorry it took me awhile to respond, i was just watching my 2003 championship DVD and i had to skip ahead to the part where we won the championship

how many of those do u have?

[turiaf for president]

lol Spurs fan acting like the Spurs titles are his own achievement.

I have the same amount of titles as you have to answer your question.

:lol:lol

[benefactor]

Certainly deserved. I think he or Wade could have won it though.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Not saying the NBA dictates outcomes of games, but you have to imagine they're desperate for LeBron to win a title this year. He's their future cash cow, and his rep already took a hit when the Spurs swept in '07.

The next time Webster releases a new dictionary, there should be a picture of a Spurs fan calling a Suns fan a conspiracy theorist right next to the word "hypocrite".

[turiaf for president]

Certainly deserved. I think he or Wade could have won it though.

wade had an amazing season. but if wade got it this year over lebron and kobe, kobe should have gotten it the year he took the lakers to the playoffs with smush luke and kwame starting with him

[Leetonidas]

The next time Webster releases a new dictionary, there should be a picture of a Spurs fan calling a Suns fan a conspiracy theorist right next to the word "hypocrite".

How is that a conspiracy? The NBA always promotes its best players. Magic, Jordan, Shaq, Kobe, etc. LeBron clearly is the face of the NBA today. I don't really like that fact, but it doesn't make it false.

[dirk4mvp]

Ignorant Spur Fan is just another speedBUMP in the road that people get caught up on.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

How is that a conspiracy? The NBA always promotes its best players. Magic, Jordan, Shaq, Kobe, etc. LeBron clearly is the face of the NBA today. I don't really like that fact, but it doesn't make it false.

Saying the NBA does things to ensure Lebron wins a championship is a conspiracy theory.

[TheProfessor]

The next time Webster releases a new dictionary, there should be a picture of a Spurs fan calling a Suns fan a conspiracy theorist right next to the word "hypocrite".
:lol I said they're desperate for it, not that they'd make it happen. I don't believe in NBA conspiracies, other than officials getting swayed during games for various reasons (home crowds, personalities, animosity towards a certain player, etc.). Would the NBA have let LeBron get swept in the first place if they involved themselves that way? Would the Spurs have four titles? No chance.

[benefactor]

wade had an amazing season. but if wade got it this year over lebron and kobe, kobe should have gotten it the year he took the lakers to the playoffs with smush luke and kwame starting with him
True enough. I put Wade in the conversation more because being 6'4 and having over 100 blocks is just sick.

[TampaDude]

Saying the NBA does things to ensure Lebron wins a championship is a conspiracy theory.

The NBA doesn't have to do any such thing. LeBron will do the things to ensure he gets that ring. :hat

[IronMexican]

Ignorant Spur Fan is just another speedBUMP in the road that people get caught up on.

:lol

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Would the NBA have let LeBron get swept in the first place if they involved themselves that way? Would the Spurs have four titles? No chance.

Here we go again stating the opinion that there's no way the NBA would ever want the Spurs to win it all (even though they've got one of the largest international fan bases) as if that opinion was fact.

[TheProfessor]

Here we go again stating the opinion that there's no way the NBA would ever want the Spurs to win it all (even though they've got one of the largest international fan bases) as if that opinion was fact.
So wait, are you saying the Spurs' winning it is a conspiracy for creating international revenue? :lol Sorry, I thought you were criticizing me for being a conspiracy theorist, when you're just another jaded Suns' fans making up his own absurd conspiracy theories. Please, continue making excuses, I'll leave you alone.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

So wait, are you saying the Spurs' winning it is a conspiracy for creating international revenue? :lol Sorry, I thought you were criticizing me for being a conspiracy theorist, when you're just another jaded Suns' fans making up his own absurd conspiracy theories. Please, continue making excuses, I'll leave you alone.

Show me where I said the refs helped the Spurs, or stop putting words in my mouth.

[1Parker1]

They finally got the award right. Lebron almost averaged a triple double and led a team with no other All Star on it to the best record in the NBA. :tu

[TampaDude]

They finally got the award right. LeBron almost averaged a triple double and led a team with no other All Star on it to the best record in the NBA. :tu

^ this

[it's me]

Perfect… now we all know Cleveland isn’t winning the championship this year.

[gaKNOW!blee]

Is it just me or does it look like its gonna be really hard for there to be a new MVP or DPOY? I mean Lebron has been putting up these stats for a while and is only 24. Plus his team is young and will have similar records for a while. And Dwight Howard is going to lead the league in blocks and defensive rebounding every year.

[Allanon]

LeBron does deserve the MVP, can't argue about it.

Good year for Cleveland basketball.

[JamStone]

I have four college intramural basketball championships. That's the truth.

How many do you guys have?

[baseline bum]

Should be his second.

True. His season last year was much better than Kobe's.

[manufan10]

Is it just me or does it look like its gonna be really hard for there to be a new MVP or DPOY? I mean Lebron has been putting up these stats for a while and is only 24. Plus his team is young and will have similar records for a while. And Dwight Howard is going to lead the league in blocks and defensive rebounding every year.

I think it will be like the Jordan years. Lebron will win it once or twice, but then they'll start giving it to other guys.

[manufan10]

Oh and congrats to Lebron. It is, indeed, well deserved. Here's to the Cavs winning the championship! :toast

[baseline bum]

I think it will be like the Jordan years. Lebron will win it once or twice, but then they'll start giving it to other guys.

Jordan won it 5 times; the only season he really got screwed on was 97 when Karl Malone got it. Shaq would be a better example. No way he shouldn't have won the 01 and 05 MVPs.

[TampaDude]

James is a slick mofo. He wont accept the award like every other MVP, so he chose to have it at his high school. Seems like hes fearful of getting showed up in front of his home crowd like Robinson did. For a guy thats a media hog, thats a bitch move seeing thats its his home fans that deserve to see that ceremony.

Dude...don't be such a retard...

[sonic21]

Dirk should have won, sorry

[TampaDude]

Im sorry, the Robinson quote is a lil touchy for you guys huh. :lol

It's not about Robinson...it's about you not getting the reason why LeBron is doing it at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School...catch a clue, dude.

BTW, the Spurs bounced the Lakers 4 games to 2 in the WCSF in 1995, so I hardly think the Lakers "showed up" DRob. :lol

[DollarSlice]

There is a press conference being held live at 4pm to make the announcement. It can be watched here. (http://www.nba.com/playoffs2009/live1/?cid=playoff1)

[JamStone]

Jordan won it 5 times; the only season he really got screwed on was 97 when Karl Malone got it. Shaq would be a better example. No way he shouldn't have won the 01 and 05 MVPs.

Iverson deserved it in 2001. True definition of MVP for that season. Dominant stats that led to a great team record. His supporting cast was shit in Philly and they ended with as many wins as the defending champion Lakers. Iverson deserved that MVP.

[Bukefal]

Deserved!! He earned it! GO LEbron! Keep entertaining us with your abilities!!

[duncan228]

He's really quite a talent, and he'll be the face of the league for years. Congrats on the award, well deserved.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Iverson deserved it in 2001. True definition of MVP for that season. Dominant stats that led to a great team record. His supporting cast was shit in Philly and they ended with as many wins as the defending champion Lakers. Iverson deserved that MVP.

I'd love to see how many wins LA would have had in that pathetic excuse of a conference aka the 2001 Eastern Conference.

[Bukefal]

Well, Duncan is not a MVP for me, i think he should not even be on the list. Parker should've though!

[TampaDude]

Look at all these Spur faggots jump on James dick now that Duncan is finished...lol

You're just bitter because you know Kobe will never win a ring without Shaq. LeBron IS the future of the NBA. Deal with it.

[ducks]

They finally got the award right. Lebron almost averaged a triple double and led a team with no other All Star on it to the best record in the NBA. :tu

so all the mvps in the past that did not have the best record did not deserve it?

[manufan10]

Jordan won it 5 times; the only season he really got screwed on was 97 when Karl Malone got it. Shaq would be a better example. No way he shouldn't have won the 01 and 05 MVPs.

Damn, I'm behind on my history. :lol :toast

[baseline bum]

Iverson deserved it in 2001. True definition of MVP for that season. Dominant stats that led to a great team record. His supporting cast was shit in Philly and they ended with as many wins as the defending champion Lakers. Iverson deserved that MVP.

The Eastern Conference of 2001 is one of the worst conferences in NBA history. I'll take 28.7/12.7/3.7 on 57% shooting with the same record against far superior competition over 31.1/3.8/4.6 on 42% shooting any day.

[sonic21]

http://i39.tinypic.com/velwmb.jpg

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

The Eastern Conference of 2001 is one of the worst conferences in NBA history. I'll take 28.7/12.7/3.7 on 57% shooting with the same record against far superior competition over 31.1/3.8/4.6 on 42% shooting any day.

I think it's the worst conference in NBA history with the 2002 and 2003 East being close seconds. That 2001 76er team might not even be a top 4 team in today's East.

[manufan10]

Look at all these Spur faggots jump on James dick now that Duncan is finished...lol

:whine

[JamStone]

The Eastern Conference of 2001 is one of the worst conferences in NBA history. I'll take 28.7/12.7/3.7 on 57% shooting with the same record against far superior competition over 31.1/3.8/4.6 on 42% shooting any day.

Then it's a matter of opinion. I'll take the guy that really single-handedly led his teams to that many wins over a guy that had considerably more help. The second best player on that Sixers team was probably Aaron McKie.

[JamStone]

I think it's the worst conference in NBA history with the 2002 and 2003 East being close seconds. That 2001 76er team might not even be a top 4 team in today's East.

Which emphasizes how valuable Iverson was.

[FromWayDowntown]

The ESPN story on the MVP voting has an error that I noticed only because I had my Spurs Homer Dissing Detector turned on. The story says:


James' coach, Mike Brown, also was honored by the NBA last month as its coach of the year. Since the ABA/NBA merger, it is only the fourth time the MVP and coach of the year came from the same team that also finished with the league's best record. The last time it happened was 2004-05 (Mike D'Antoni coach, Steve Nash MVP, Phoenix Suns), but in the group of four, only the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, who won 72 games, won the championship.

But that's not correct. In 2002-03, the San Antonio Spurs had the best record in the league, the MVP (Tim Duncan), the Coach of the Year (Gregg Popovich), and won the title.

F'n haters.

[lefty]

Look at all these Spur faggots jump on James dick now that Duncan is finished...lol

Lebron almost beat the Celtics in the 2008 playoffs with a shitty team around him.

Lakers got destroyed in 6 by Boston a few weeks later.

But Lakers are gonna beat Cavs this year

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Which emphasizes how valuable Iverson was.

huh?

[duncan228]

The official release, past winners, and the breakdown of this year's voting.

James outdistances Bryant in winning Kia MVP award (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=nba_com-mvprace-nba-20090504&prov=nba_com&type=lgns)
By Official release, NBA.com

LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers is the winner of the Maurice Podoloff Trophy as the 2008-09 NBA Most Valuable Player presented by Kia Motors.

James totaled 1,172 points including 109 first place votes, from a panel of 121 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Players were awarded 10 points for each first-place vote, seven points for each second-place vote, five for third, three for fourth and one for each fifth-place vote received.

Rounding out the top five in voting for this season's award are the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant (698 points), Miami's Dwyane Wade (680), Orlando's Dwight Howard (328) and New Orleans' Chris Paul (192).

As part of its support of the Most Valuable Player Award, Kia Motors America will donate either a new Borrego SUV or Sedona minivan on behalf of James to The Urban League of Akron. Kia Motors is presenting a brand new vehicle to the charity of choice of each of four 2008-09 season-end award winners as part of the "The NBA Performance Awards Presented by Kia Motors."

James, the first Cavalier to win the award, led Cleveland in scoring (28.4 ppg, second in the NBA), rebounds (7.6 rpg), assists (7.2 apg, fourth), and steals (1.7 spg, eighth). Since the 1973-74 season when steals became an official stat, James is the fourth player to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals, while also leading his team to 50-plus wins (Larry Bird 1985-86; Grant Hill, 1996-97; Kevin Garnett, 2002-03). The 6-8 forward helped Cleveland to an NBA- and franchise-best 66-16 season, a 21-game improvement over last season (45-37), marking the 12th time an NBA team has reached 66 wins in a season.

James led the league in triple-doubles (seven) and became the 12th player in NBA history to record three-consecutive triple-doubles (March 7, 10, 12). In his sixth season, James became the ninth player in NBA history to have at least five consecutive 2,000 point seasons.

Since the NBA began voting on the Eastern and Western Conference Player of the Month separately in 2001-02, James is just the second player to receive the award four times in one season (Kevin Garnett, 2003-04). James was voted the Eastern Conference Player of the Month in November, January, March and April. James was also named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week seven times (Nov. 10, 17; Dec. 29; Jan. 26; Feb. 9; March 16, 23).

The NBA MVP trophy is named in honor of the late Maurice Podoloff, the first commissioner of the NBA who served from 1946 until his retirement in 1963.

The 2008-09 NBA Most Valuable Player Award presented by Kia Motors is part of a series of on-court performance awards called "The NBA Performance Awards Presented by Kia Motors." The awards, which are part of a multi-year marketing partnership that makes Kia Motors America the official automotive partner of the NBA, also include the Most Improved Player, Defensive Player of the Year, and Sixth Man Awards. The series also includes the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month presented by Kia Motors. For more information on the "The NBA Performance Awards Presented by Kia Motors" .


Season - Player, Team
1955-56 - Bob Pettit, St. Louis 1956-57 - Bob Cousy, Boston 1957-58 - Bill Russell, Boston 1958-59 - Bob Pettit, St. Louis 1959-60 - Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia 1960-61 - Bill Russell, Boston 1961-62 - Bill Russell, Boston 1962-63 - Bill Russell, Boston 1963-64 - Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati 1964-65 - Bill Russell, Boston 1965-66 - Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia 1966-67 - Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia 1967-68 - Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia 1968-69 - Wes Unseld, Baltimore 1969-70 - Willis Reed, New York 1970-71 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee 1971-72 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee 1972-73 - Dave Cowens, Boston 1973-74 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee 1974-75 - Bob McAdoo, Buffalo 1975-76 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles 1976-77 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles 1977-78 - Bill Walton, Portland 1978-79 - Moses Malone, Houston 1979-80 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles 1980-81 - Julius Erving, Philadelphia 1981-82 - Moses Malone, Houston 1982-83 - Moses Malone, Philadelphia 1983-84 - Larry Bird, Boston 1984-85 - Larry Bird, Boston 1985-86 - Larry Bird, Boston 1986-87 - Magic Johnson, L.A. Lakers 1987-88 - Michael Jordan, Chicago 1988-89 - Magic Johnson, L.A. Lakers 1989-90 - Magic Johnson, L.A. Lakers 1990-91 - Michael Jordan, Chicago 1991-92 - Michael Jordan, Chicago 1992-93 - Charles Barkley, Phoenix 1993-94 - Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston 1994-95 - David Robinson, San Antonio 1995-96 - Michael Jordan, Chicago 1996-97 - Karl Malone, Utah 1997-98 - Michael Jordan, Chicago 1998-99 - Karl Malone, Utah 1999-00 - Shaquille O'Neal, L.A. Lakers 2000-01 - Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 2001-02 - Tim Duncan, San Antonio 2002-03 - Tim Duncan, San Antonio 2003-04 - Kevin Garnett, Minnesota 2004-05 - Steve Nash, Phoenix 2005-06 - Steve Nash, Phoenix 2006-07 - Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas 2007-08 - Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 2008-09 - LeBron James, Cleveland


2008-09 MVP AWARD PRESENTED BY KIA MOTORS VOTING

Player, Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Total

LeBron James, Cleveland 109 11 1 - - 1,172
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 2 56 52 8 2 698
Dwyane Wade, Miami 7 50 41 17 4 680
Dwight Howard, Orlando 1 3 17 63 23 328
Chris Paul, New Orleans 2 1 9 23 51 192
Chauncey Billups, Denver - - - 6 15 33
Paul Pierce, Boston - - 1 2 10 21
Tony Parker, San Antonio - - - 1 6 9
Brandon Roy, Portland - - - 1 4 7
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas - - - - 3 3
Tim Duncan, San Antonio - - - - 2 2
Yao Ming, Houston - - - - 1 1

[BRHornet45]

sons the NBA is looking more like the WWE every year ... this shit has been scripted ever since November along with plans for a Cavs vs Lakers finals.

[FromWayDowntown]

Spurs Homer here again:

With the two 5th place votes he got this year, Duncan's streak of getting at least some vote in the MVP race in every year of his career continues.

For whatever that's worth. :rolleyes

[resistanze]

The Eastern Conference of 2001 is one of the worst conferences in NBA history. I'll take 28.7/12.7/3.7 on 57% shooting with the same record against far superior competition over 31.1/3.8/4.6 on 42% shooting any day.

I think the conference disparity is offset by the help Shaq had. Kobe that year averaged 28.5/5.9/5.0 on 46% shooting. The second leading scorer on the 76ers was Ratliff @ 12PPG, then he was traded for Mutumbo who averaged 11PPG. Of course, Mutumbo brought All-World defense, but a team with Eric Snow, George Lynch and Aaron McKie starting? :lmao

[duncan228]

Spurs Homer here again:

With the two 5th place votes he got this year, Duncan's streak of getting at least some vote in the MVP race in every year of his career continues.

For whatever that's worth. :rolleyes

In the grand scheme of things it's probably not worth much.

For those of us that follow him closely, it's another small piece that shows how great he is. Not that we don't already know that. :)

[FromWayDowntown]

In the grand scheme of things it's probably not worth much.

For those of us that follow him closely, it's another small piece that shows how great he is. Not that we don't already know that. :)

That was more me being cynical with myself for pointing out the fact than being cynical about the fact itself.

[j.dizzle]

Lebron definetly deserves the award. Congrats to him. Wade is second. Kobe has too much talent on his team to win it. Lebron & Wade just have a bunch of scrubs around them other then Mo Williams & Beasely

[DAF86]

Iverson was the deserved MVP of the league in 2001, get over it.

[JoeTait75]

Iverson was the deserved MVP of the league in 2001, get over it.

I'm watching Game 7 of the Sixers-Raptors series right now. AI had NOTHING around him. He was the MVP with a bullet that year.

Oh, and Lakaluva... we'll see you in June. :king

[JamStone]

huh?

That 2001 Philly team was horrible. No way they should have won 40 games, much less 56, no matter what conference they were in. That's how great Iverson was that season. He carried that shit team to 56 wins literally by himself. As bad as that team was, that's how great Iverson had to be for that team to be as successful as they were.

[bostonguy]

Props to Prince James for winning the award. He earned it. We will see in June if he can go from a Prince to a King.

[Allanon]

Props to Prince James for winning the award. He earned it. We will see in June if he can go from a Prince to a King.

It's been quite a few years since the MVP actually won the Finals too.

It's a wierd stat, just like the one where Coach of the Year's get fired like 2 years later.

[fevertrees]

The award is a joke considering Kobe is #2 lol

[duncan228]

It's been quite a few years since the MVP actually won the Finals too.

It's cool when it happens.

2003 was amazing as a Duncan fan. MVP, Champion, Finals MVP. It's not my favorite Spurs Title, but it was quite a season for Duncan (and me :)).

[Allanon]

It's cool when it happens.

2003 was amazing as a Duncan fan. MVP, Champion, Finals MVP. It's not my favorite Spurs Title, but it was quite a season for Duncan (and me :)).

Hahah, I was actually looking that up, you beat me to it. I knew it was either Duncan or Shaq that did it last, wasn't sure which of the two it was.

The double Finals MVP & season MVP is pretty sweet.

[Jloyola]

He's a king... he doesn't need to go get it... Stern will gladly bring it to him...

Its only fair... Stern gave Duncan 4

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

It's been quite a few years since the MVP actually won the Finals too.

It's a wierd stat, just like the one where Coach of the Year's get fired like 2 years later.

That's why, IMO, true dominance is winning MVP and finals MVP in the same season.

[Galileo]

Spurs Homer here again:

With the two 5th place votes he got this year, Duncan's streak of getting at least some vote in the MVP race in every year of his career continues.

For whatever that's worth. :rolleyes

Is that a record, 12 straight years? Magic is the only person I can think of that might have done that.

[FromWayDowntown]

Is that a record, 12 straight years? Magic is the only person I can think of that might have done that.

I'm not going to pretend to have looked at the voting for every player ever, but in just quickly looking over some likely competition, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar got MVP votes in each of his first 17 seasons and Shaquille O'Neal got MVP votes in each of his first 13 seasons. In fact, unlike Timmy (who eeked into an 11th place showing in 2008-09), each of those guys finished in the Top 10 in those consecutive years.

So, no. Not a record.

[sonic21]

pierce 7th and dirk 10th
wtf

dirk should be 5th

[Galileo]

I'm not going to pretend to have looked at the voting for every player ever, but in just quickly looking over some likely competition, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar got MVP votes in each of his first 17 seasons and Shaquille O'Neal got MVP votes in each of his first 13 seasons. In fact, unlike Timmy (who eeked into an 11th place showing in 2008-09), each of those guys finished in the Top 10 in those consecutive years.

So, no. Not a record.

Bird; first 14 years

Mailman; 15 straight years.

Tim; not done yet, will continue string unless he gets injured.

[ManuTP9]

congrats LBJ

[sook]

my man wade got robbed. :depressed

[Armando]

Cavs fans should worry about LeCrab being the MVP.

What do KG(Wolves),Nash(2),Dirk,AI and Kobe have in common? 6 MVPS= 0 titles

[Armando]

This award is crap. How can Wade be 3rd?

[duncan228]

MVP, but no guarantee: NBA titles have been elusive for league's best (http://www.cleveland.com/livingston/index.ssf/2009/05/mvp_but_no_guarantee_nba_title.html)
Bill Livingston/The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND -- History is LeBron James' opponent now, as much as the Celtics, the Magic, the Atlanta Hawks or the Lakers. History is going to be tough.

That is not meant as disrespect to the Hawks, who are the Cavaliers' opponents in the next game, which finally arrives Tuesday night. The Hawks will be a stiffer test than the Miami Heat would have been. But history has been unkind to the NBA's Most Valuable Players in this decade.

Only one regular-season MVP, Tim Duncan of San Antonio in 2002-03, has led his team to the NBA title in the same year since the new century began. He did so by coming close to an unprecedented NBA Finals quadruple double with 20 points, 18 rebounds, 10 assists and eight blocked shots in the close-out game against New Jersey.:smokin

No MVP award has ever felt as hollow as the 2006-07 bauble that was given to Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki in mid-May, long after Golden State, which had won 42 games to Dallas' 67, ousted the Mavericks in the first round. Nowitzki, who seemed convinced that the rim was toxic and the paint a minefield, took potshot 3-pointers, went 2-for-13 in the elimination game, and remains the Bill Buckner of MVPs.

Duncan on one hand, Nowitzki on the other.

James is the league's newly minted MVP. He is also the rare young player who can talk knowledgeably about Bill Russell, "Pistol" Pete Maravich, Magic Johnson and Julius Erving. To him, history is not something you watch on ESPN Classic. It is something you make.

The playoffs exaggerate everything because so many crucial plays are compressed into so little time. Every play can become part of the lore: Michael Jordan holding his follow-through after pushing Byron Russell down and hitting the last shot he ever should have taken; Dr. J's Great Leap Forward (and also behind the backboard); Magic Johnson's baby hook; Larry Bird's steal. Every flaw can be remembered too: John Stark's 2-for-18 seventh game.

With league MVPs, so much more is expected. Duncan here, Nowitzki there.

Sports Illustrated put James on the cover in February with the title, "The Power of LeBron." He had too much vim for the SI jinx to hex him. He sure won't be Nowitzki because he can't be intimidated and is in the paint more than an artist at an easel. He is still developing, adding a jump hook, a fadeaway and a classic Brad Daugherty hook. He will need everything because the Cavs will not be favored by the national media should they face the Lakers in the Finals.

Jordan really is the measure for them all. Dominant during the season, he was astounding in the playoffs. Nothing may ever top his 38 points when flu-ridden to will his team to a 90-88 victory in Game 5 of the 1997 Finals against regular-season MVP Karl Malone's Utah Jazz.

Jordan won five MVPs, second to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's six. The Bulls lost in the conference semifinals when he won it in 1987-88. In his other MVP seasons (1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98, they were champions. Jordan outplayed Charles Barkley and Malone in their MVP years in the Finals.

In basketball, the best players can exert more influence than in other sports. They are expected to win the biggest games. James resumes the quest Tuesday night.

TITLES UNKIND TO MVPS

Here is a look at the MVPs of the NBA in this decade, how their team fared in the playoffs, who won the championship and who was Finals MVP:

* 2000-01: Allen Iverson, Sixers -- Philadelphia lost in Finals to L.A. Lakers, with Shaquille O'Neal as Finals MVP.
* 2001-02: Tim Duncan, Spurs -- San Antonio lost in West semifinals to L.A. Lakers, as O'Neal won Finals MVP.
* 2002-03: Duncan -- San Antonio won NBA championship, and he was named Finals MVP (above).
* 2003-04: Kevin Garnett, Timberwolves -- Minnesota lost in West finals. Detroit's Chauncey Billups was Finals MVP.
* 2004-05: Steve Nash, Suns -- Phoenix lost in West finals, as San Antonio's Tim Duncan was Finals MVP.
* 2005-06: Nash -- Phoenix lost in West finals to Dallas; Miami's Dwyane Wade was Finals MVP.
* 2006-07: Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks -- Dallas lost in first round; San Antonio's Tony Parker was Finals MVP.
* 2007-08: Kobe Bryant, Lakers -- Los Angeles lost in NBA Finals, as Boston's Paul Pierce was Finals MVP.

[duncan228]

LeBron vs. former MVPs (http://www.ohio.com/sports/cavs/44320157.html)
By Beacon Journal staff

Here is how LeBron James measures up with the past 10 MVPs.

• Only two of the past 10 Most Valuable Players have averaged more points throughout a season than James did this year (28.4). Shaquille O'Neal averaged 29.7 points during the 1999-2000 season. Allen Iverson averaged 31.1 points the following season.

• Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash is the only one to average more assists in a season than James, which he did twice. Nash averaged 11.5 assists in 2004-2005 and 10.5 assists in 2005-2006, claiming MVP honors in each year. James averaged 7.2 assists this season.

• Only two former MVPs during that span averaged more steals. Kobe Bryant averaged 1.8 steals during his 2007-2008 season, barely slipping past James' 1.7 average this year. Iverson dwarfed them both with 2.5 steals during the 2000-2001 season.

• Four of those players have averaged more rebounds in a season than James. Tim Duncan did it twice when he won back-to-back MVP honors during the 2002-2003 (12.9 RPG) and 2001-2002 seasons (12.7 RPG). O'Neal (13.6 rebounds in 1999-2000) and Kevin Garnett (13.9 RPG in 2003-2004) both averaged more than James' 7.6 rebounds this season. Yet those players play in the post and will naturally grab more rebounds. The only wing player James did not outrebound is Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, who averaged 8.9 rebounds during his 2006-2007 MVP season and is also 7 feet tall.

• Bryant and Garnett join James as the only three players who averaged at least five rebounds and five assists during their MVP season. Bryant averaged 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists and averaged 28.3 points in 2007-2008. Garnett averaged 13.9 rebounds, five assists and 24.2 points in 2003-2004. James is the most well-rounded of the bunch with his averages of 7.6 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 28.4 points.

[Cleveland Steamer]

We are all witnesses.

[sprrs]

A bunch if he got to play with the best power forward of all time his entire career.

We can only dream.

[Armando]

So I guess ESPN is happy. Somewhere Stuart Scott and Ric Bucher are jacking off to a photo of LeBron with the trophy.