LeBron James, one of the greatest players in NBA history, believes he should have more than his four MVP awards. Despite his frustration, he remains focused on the next season and the opportunity to be the MVP once again.
LeBron James' Frustration with MVP Awards
( Credit to: Basketballnetwork )
LeBron James, one of the greatest players in NBA history, has expressed his frustration over the number of MVP awards he has won throughout his illustrious career. Despite his consistent presence in the MVP conversation, LeBron believes he should have more than the four trophies currently adorning his trophy case.
During a postgame Zoom interview in 2021, LeBron stated, "I should have more than four, I believe. I don't sit around thinking about it or crying about it, or whatever the case may be. I just try to come in the next season and be the MVP and be talked about [for] it again. I bet a lot of the greatest that played this game feel like they should have more as well."
LeBron's MVP wins came in 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013, showcasing his dominance in the league during his prime years. However, he came tantalizingly close to achieving an unprecedented feat of winning five consecutive MVP awards. Only Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Larry Bird have won the prestigious accolade in three consecutive seasons, making LeBron's potential achievement all the more remarkable.
The MVP Case of 2011
In 2011, LeBron had a strong case for the MVP title. He averaged 26.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.6 steals per game while leading the Miami Heat to a 58-win season. However, the award went to Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, who had an exceptional season himself, averaging 25.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while guiding his team to the best record in the Eastern Conference.
Throughout his career, LeBron has finished as the runner-up for the MVP award on four occasions. These instances occurred in 2005-06, 2013-14, 2017-18, and most recently in 2019-20, where he placed second behind Steve Nash, Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, respectively. It is the last of these that seemed to particularly irk LeBron, as he expressed his frustration with receiving only 16 first-place votes out of 101.
"It pissed me off because out of 101 votes, I got 16 first-place votes. That's what pissed me off more than anything," LeBron revealed. "You can't tell me that 16 people out of 101, that's what you thought. Not saying that the winner wasn't deserving of the MVP, but that pissed me off."