'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABgf/2gAIAQEAAAAAghr/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA/9oACAECEAAAAH//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA/9oACAEDEAAAAH//xAAfEAABAwMFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADAQIEAAYxBRESFDL/2gAIAQEAAT8AujRhw7Wsw4mIhJ8I0kj1K53JeyQeMN8UsXZcpX//xAAUEQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA/9oACAECAQE/AH//xAAUEQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA/9oACAEDAQE/AH//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
2013 for the King was one which saw garnering lesser individual awards outside the NBA but a satisfying year none the less. Barring the Olympic gold medal, he repeated on every individual and team award he had won the previous season.
LeBron’s move to South Beach has been nothing short of a dream come true for all citizens of Miami, the franchise and team included. Led by the King they are the defending two time NBA Champions and also the team with the reigning two time league MVP and Finals MVP.
He is currently the best player on the planet and on the occasion of the King’s 29th birthday, here’s are his top 5 occasions worth celebrating from the 2013.
5. Most relaxed off-season in recent years
James was finally spending a summer with nobody questioning his torrid fourth quarter performance in his Finals against the Dallas Mavericks or there was nobody burning his jerseys for making a move from his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio to the state of Florida or he didn’t have to hold off celebration his title for representing his country at the Summer Olympics.
Although a player with James’ character would always prefer representing his country on an international level than spending a summer cherishing a ring there is no denying the fact that spending a summer with no professionally commitment to bear after a 99 game season grind is certainly relaxing right?
Also, next summer is the off-season when James becomes a free agent once again but for now let’s ease the pressure on him, he deserves it after all he faced the toughest series en route to his second title.
4. Receiving the AP Male Athlete of the Year award
That’s right LeBron! Your not only the number one basketball player at present but for 2013 your also the best male athlete in all sports
An award is only an icing on the cake and for James to receive 31 of 96 votes is no surprise. He is only the third player in the league after Larry Bird and Michael Jordan to win this award.
For a year filled with personal achievements and milestones, LeBron James, the best basketball player on the planet deserves to be named the best athlete for the year considering he has also referred to many analysts as the best physical specimen in sports.
Here’s a clip of the James top 10 plays of 2013
3. Miami Heat’s 27 game winning streak
Ray Allen and Mario Chalmers celebrate their 27th win in a row after they beat the Orlando Magic on March the 25th.
The King had a “month of the ages” in February of this year. He set multiple shooting records, becoming the first player since Kareem Abdul Jabbar in March of 1983 to take more than 200 shots in a calendar month and make at least 64% of them.
Another huge landmark in the month of February was Miami Heat’s 27 game win streak which started on 3rd February and lasted 53 days till the 27th of March. It was the second longest winning streak by a team in the history of the league behind the 33 wins by the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers.
The team was on a high and so was their chemistry. Although not completely dominating during the period, the Heat fought their way back from deficits they faced in the closing minutes of games to end up as the winning side. Spoke a lot about the team’s character, belief and trust in each other and James’ performance was huge contribution and factor.
Top 10 plays from the Heat’s impressive streak
2. League MVP honors for the fourth time
LeBron James with his fourth MVP trophy in 5 years
As he won his fourth league MVP award, James fell one vote short of being the first player ever to win the award unanimously. Never mind it does not deprive of him of his award, instead show his current dominance on the game.
With season ending averages of 26.8 points, 8 rebounds and 7.3 assists on 56.5% shooting, there was not many standing in between James and the MVP trophy.
This had to be James’ most satisfying season in the league as his team on the back of their 27 game winning streak finished with a franchise and league best record of 66-16.
“Anytime I’m mentioned with the greatest players to play the game, it’s a wow factor,” James said. “I grew up and studied those guys, watched those guys. A few of them were my inspiration.”
After his last season’s MVP award, James joins Bill Russell as the only player to have won four MVP’s in 5 years. Only Kareem, Michael Jordan and Russell have won it more times than James has.
1.Winning back to back titles and Finals MVP awards
LeBron James defended his title successfully in the Finals in a rematch against his first ever Finals opponents, from six years ago, the San Antonio Spurs.
It was a contest that went down to the wire. Behind his 16 points and Ray Allen’s crucial clutch shot in the closing seconds, James and the Miami Heat battled elimination to send game 6 into overtime and eventually the series to a Game 7 which they won 95-88.
James was named the Finals MVP for a second consecutive season behind series averages of 25.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, 7 assists and 2.3 steals.
At the age of 29, he has more championships than Kobe Bryant or Michael. He has more points at the age of 29 than the top 5 on the all time scoring leaders list.
Who knows how long he can play and what he can achieve in that time.
Guess the Lakers players!
