COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — LeBron James has been chosen USA Basketball’s male athlete of the year for 2012 after equaling Michael Jordan’s feat while leading the Americans to a gold medal.
James was also the NBA’s MVP and NBA Finals MVP in helping the Miami Heat win the championship. Jordan is the only other player to accomplish that in a calendar year, winning the NBA title, both MVP awards and Olympic gold in 1992.
James averaged 13.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and a team-high 5.6 assists for the Americans in London, where he became one of three U.S. men to compete in three Olympics. He also won gold in 2008 and bronze in 2004.
U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski says Wednesday in a statement that James was “the central figure on this team,” calling him “our leader, our best player, our playmaker.”
