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Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (L)
receives the NBA Most Valuable Player award from Tim Chaney, Kia Motors
America's marketing director, during a ceremony at James' alma mater,
Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, in Akron, Ohio, May 4, 2009.
(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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WASHINGTON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- 24-year-old LeBron
James, super star of Cleveland Cavalier, was crowned the Most Valuable Player
(MVP) of the 2008-2009 NBA regular season on Monday.
It was announced a day before the Cavaliers begin
their second-round series against the Atlanta Hawks. They trounced the Detroit
Pistons four games in a row in the previous round of the Eastern Conference
playoffs.
James, the first Cavaliers player by winning the
award, finished second in voting for defensive player of the year.
At 24 years and 125 days old, he
became the youngest player to win the award since Moses Malone (24 years, 16
days) in 1978-79 Season. Wes Unseld was 23 when he won it in 1968-69 Season.
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Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James talks
along side his trophy after being named the NBA Most Valuable Player
(MVP)during a ceremony at James' alma mater, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary
High School, in Akron, Ohio May 4, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters
Photo)
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James started a career-high 81 games and recorded
personal bests in field-goal (49%) and free-throw (79%) percentages. He became
just the second player to post five straight seasons of at least 27 points, six
rebounds and six assists.
When he was on the court, James produced staggering
numbers: 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.2 assists a game. A league-high seven
triple-doubles, a league-leading plus/minus of 871, and a nearly historic Player
Efficiency Rating of 31.76, just shy of Jordan's record of 31.89 in 1988.
This season, James and the
Cavaliers rolled to a 66-16 record, best in the league and in franchise history,
including an incredible 39-2 at home, also best.
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Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James
goes to the basket past Detroit Pistons guard Richard Hamilton during the
first half of Game 4 of their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series in
Auburn Hills, Michigan April 26, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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In a league of remarkable athletes, James, with his
package of power and speed, may well stand alone.
