LeBron James Wins MVP

For the 4th time in the last five years, LeBron James is named the NBA MVP. James, 28, became the youngest player in NBA history to win four MVPs after receiving 120 of 121 first-place votes by league media members and analysts. The lone other first-place vote went to Knicks star Carmelo Anthony. It was the second time a player fell one vote short of an unanimous MVP selection, with Shaquille O'Neal also receiving 120 of 121 first-place votes in 1999-2000. But coming up short of a unanimous selection didn't overshadow a historic feat for James, who joined Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to win at least four MVP awards. Thunder forward Kevin Durant finished second to James in MVP voting for the second straight year, with Anthony third, Chris Paul fourth and Kobe Bryant fifth in votes. And in the time span of LeBron's titles, Derek Rose is the only other player to win MVP, which he did in 2010-11.

Now there are some people who can argue, and they have a decent argument, that Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks should have won it over James. And the same sort of argument can possibly be said about Kevin Durant of the Thunder too. Here is the thing though. Yes Durant and Carmelo were both key to their team's success this year, but this isn't the award for team MVP this is the award for League MVP.

While it is true that statistically both Durant and Anthony had better scoring years LeBron had a better all around game than both of those other guys. I know some people have the view that with MVP, it should go to the player who has the biggest impact on their team. It is true that with Carmelo and Durant out of the lineups, both the Knicks and Thunder aren't as good as they are with those guys in their respective lineups. But with this argument, this MVP award goes to the best player in ALL of basketball. I'm not saying that Anthony and Durant didn't have great years, because trust me they had great years. The thing is that LeBron was just better all around.

I know LeBron had more of a supporting cast around him in Miami than Carmelo did in New York, and than Durant had in Oklahoma City. He still has to be a very good basketball player in order for the Heat to be a great basketball team. It's just LeBron had a better all around game this season and was very deserving of the MVP this year. So congratulations to LeBron James on winning his 4th MVP Award!