|
[이데일리 스타in 이석무 기자] American Professional Basketball (NBA) Los Angeles Lakers’ King LeBron James (36, USA) was selected as the Male Sports Player of the Year by AP.
The Associated Press announced on the 27th, “James announced the’Black Lives Matter’ movement this year and led his team to the championship in the league.”
James slightly beat Kansas City’s quarterback Patrick Mahoms (25, USA), the winner of the American Professional Football (NFL) Super Bowl, who scored 78 points in a poll consisting of 35 members of the Associated Press.
James won this award for the fourth time in his career, following 2013, 2016, and 2018. James is the third ever player to win four awards in the AP Men’s Sports Player of the Year category, first established in 1931, after Tiger Woods (golf) and Lance Armstrong (Cycle, Lee Sang in the United States).
James led the Los Angeles Lakers to the championship in 10 years in the 2019-20 NBA season that ended last October. The best player in the championship match (MVP) was also his job.
Previously, James was a championship MVP with Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013, and Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. James was the first player in the history of the NBA to become the championship MVP for three different teams.
James spoke actively about the black rights movement on and off the court. After the NBA season was stopped due to Corona 19 and resumed, it was James’ role that players were able to attach social messages such as’Black Lives Matter’ to their uniforms.
James said, “In games, I always pour out my everything and do my best to do what I need to do.” “I can actually do more outside the court.”
In the Associated Press Men’s Player of the Year category, the NBA player has swept the award six times in the last eight years. Last year, too, NBA player Kerwai Leonard (29, USA) won the prize. In the last eight years, players other than basketball have received awards: Madison Bumgarner (31, USA) in 2014 and Jose Altube (30, Venezuela) in 2017. Both are major league baseball players.
Meanwhile, the AP Women’s Sports Player of the Year will be announced on the 28th. Last year, American gymnast Simon Byles won the prize. Looking at the past winners, Babe Didrickson (Golf USA) was selected 6 times and Serena Williams (Tennis USA) was selected 5 times.