Not even Michael Jordan has been unanimously voted NBA MVP (cue the annual accusations that some sports writers use their votes vindictively), but Lebron James came within one vote of that honor.
James, who was clearly playing on another level this season, became the youngest player ever to win 4 MVP trophies.
It was the fourth time in his 10-year career that James has won the award, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (six MVPs), Michael Jordan (five), Bill Russell (five) and Wilt Chamberlain (four) as the only players to win MVP at least four times.
“I try to be the best player on the court every night when I step on the floor,” James said Sunday during the MVP ceremony on the court of American Airlines Arena.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant was second, Anthony third, Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul fourth, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant fifth, San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker sixth, Spurs big man Tim Duncan seventh, Houston Rockets guard James Harden eighth, Thunder guard Russell Westbrook ninth and Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade 10th.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Boston Celtics forward-center Kevin Garnett, Warriors forward David Lee, Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson, Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol and Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah also received votes.
King James pulled in 120 of 121 first place votes, and for a short time there was a mystery over who the lone holdout was.
“Alright, who was it?” - Reporter in MSG press room just now RT @agonzalezap: Who’s one person who gave Carmelo Anthony a 1st-place vote?
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) May 5, 2013
Finally Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe admitted to being the lone holdout
I voted for Carmelo Anthony based on his importance to the New York Knicks, who, if you haven’t been paying attention the past decade, have failed to be relevant.
Who would have ever thought that Lebron James would be thwarted by a Boston writer giving a back-handed compliment to the Knicks?
