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He shouldn't around like that (final minute, game 6) anymore.
MIAMI -- The only thing that keeps LeBron James up worrying at night is basketball, which simultaneously makes perfect sense and no sense.
On one hand, he's the game's best player.
On the other, he's rarely impressed with himself.
Even after a year like 2013 -- when a spectacular wedding, a second NBA championship and a fourth MVP award were among the many highlights enjoyed by the Miami Heat star -- he still is, as he puts it, striving for greatness. Or, technically, more greatness, since his enormous list of accomplishments just keeps growing.
James was announced Thursday as The Associated Press' 2013 Male Athlete of the Year, becoming the third basketball player to capture the award that has been annually awarded since 1931. James received 31 of 96 votes cast in a poll of news organizations, beating Peyton Manning (20) and Jimmie Johnson (7).
"I'm chasing something and it's bigger than me as a basketball player," James told the AP. "I believe my calling is much higher than being a basketball player. I can inspire people. Youth is huge to me. If I can get kids to look at me as a role model, as a leader, a superhero ... those things mean so much, and that's what I think I was built for. I was put here for this lovely game of basketball, but I don't think this is the biggest role that I'm going to have."
Past winners include Joe Louis, Jesse Owens, Muhammad Ali, Carl Lewis, Joe Montana, Tiger Woods and Michael Phelps. Serena Williams was the AP Female Athlete of the Year, announced Wednesday.
James joins Michael Jordan and Larry Bird as NBA players to win the award.
"I don't think I've changed much this year," James said. "I've just improved and continued to improve on being more than just as a basketball player. I've matured as a leader, as a father, as a husband, as a friend."
None of those was bigger than the four Miami got in the NBA Finals against San Antonio. In Game 7, James was at his best, scoring 37 points, including the jump shot with 27.9 seconds left that essentially was the clincher.
"He always rises to the occasion when it matters the most," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Business-wise, James is booming. Some estimate his annual income around $60 million, less than one-third of that being made on the court. His wife has opened a juice bar in Miami, and David Beckham wants James to be part of the Major League Soccer team he plans on bringing to South Florida in the next couple years.
Countless people want to align with James. Few make him listen. Beckham did.
"You want to be a part of it, but it has to feel real to you," James said. "You don't want to do something that doesn't feel much to you, that you're just doing for the money. We all have money. For me, my time is more than money at this point in my life."
He shouldn't around like that (final minute, game 6) anymore.
The AP male athlete award is the biggest honour in sports in regards to the combination of dominance + popularity, tbh..
What is the criteria to win the award?
The AP male athlete award is the biggest honour in sports in regards to the combination of dominance + popularity, tbh..
37 year old Peyton Manning and his all-time record 51 touchdown passes has a beef with this award. Much bigger accomplishment than colluding with other all-stars to buy an NBA championship twice.
A doorstopPERIOD
Further evidence that LeBron > Kobe
Lost me at "rarely impressed with himself"
LOL so so what?!
Great player, well deserved he is the best athlete in sports right now ...
But just another award ...Tim duncan's or Kobe POTD is more impressive ...
My guess Lebron wins that award POTD (this current one) easily and he will SWEEP them all and not have it split like Tim (SI) or Kobe (TSN, others)
that WAs funny
But hey the guy is amazing ...hard to remain humble ...
Barry Bonds and Lance Armstrong were the award winners between 2001 and 2005, it's a dynasty of roided up athletes. Lebron is just next in line.
It's apparent who doesn't lift in here.
100% chance of that happening. He's never had anyone on his level during this generation. Too many consecutive MVPs, vs Dirk/Tim/Kobe splitting everything.
Tiger Woods tbh. He won 5 times this year, one of them being at The Players where he's only won once before and is truly one of the hardest tournaments in golf. That's an amazing career for a pro and he did it in a year and we STILL don't consider it that great because none of them were majors.
Nobody suffers more from their own success, tbh.....
Oh, and he wins the 2013 Masters if he doesn't catch the unluckiest break I've ever seen watching golf.
I checked previous winners of the AP award. From 2002-2005 it was Lance Armstrong, and in 2010 it was Drew Brees...lol
Can Lebron win Xmas,All-star,regular season and Finals MVP all in the same season? GOAT. MJ who?
Christ-a-mighty, you had him beat, denied him his back-to-back, and somehow you ed it up and had to give it back.
Because he's the GOAT. MJ would have been busy beating his teammates up. Lebron had the GOAT missed shot in the clutch that led to a Ray Allen 3
Learn how to spell, you ing black bas .
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