James Shares 4th NBA MVP Trophy With Teammates
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Word leaked on Friday that LeBron James would win the NBA's "Most Valuable Player" award but in reality the basketball world knew a long time ago that the "king" had his fourth MVP trophy in the last five years all wrapped up.
"I try to be the best player on the court every single night when I step on the floor. And I've been, I guess rewarded," said James.
Pat Riley had something to say about the MVP award.
"This man that we're looking at right here, is the best of all of them," said Riley.
The numbers are staggering - 26.8 points, eight rebounds and 7.3 assists per game; all while shooting 56.5 percent from the field and 41 percent from three-point land.
"I'm humbled and I'm happy about it, and I wish it was 15 of these up here because I'm with a great group of guys that allow me to be the MVP," said James.
"Once you think he can't get any better, he continues to reinvent himself," said teammate, Udonis Haslem. "He continues to work on his weaknesses, which you really don't think he has any."
While James joins the ranks of Jordan, Chamberlain, Russel and Jabbar as the only player to win the MVP at least four times, those closest to him continue to heap praise on LeBron as the consummate teammate.
"You would never know he's MVP elite," said Dwyane Wade. "He's a total team guy."
"I've been around a lot of basketball and played a lot of basketball, but hands down in my opinion, he's the best player
I've ever seen play the game. It's a honor and privilege to have the opportunity to play with a guy like that," said Haslem.
"He's the best player in the world; he's my hero," said Chris Bosh.
As is his custom, James shared his MVP with the entire team, a gesture that was not lost on forward Mike Miller.
"What I'm most proud of brother, is that between the two of us we now got four MVP's," said Miller.