Besides being one of the greatest basketball players to ever grace the hardwood of the National Basketball Association, LeBron James has committed himself to raise his voice as an activist about the injustices in our country and making a difference in Akron, Ohio. In other words, he refuses to shut up and dribble.
For his off the court efforts, LeBron will always be an MVP. Acknowledging his work, for the third time, LeBron James has been named the Male Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press. He joins Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Lance Armstrong as the only men to win the award three times.
According to the AP, James received the most balloting points followed by Boston Red Sox star Mookie Betts, Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was fourth, and Triple Crown winner Justify was fifth.
“In addition to being on everyone’s short list as one of the league’s all-time greatest players, LeBron is among the hardest working players and is a thoughtful and impactful leader,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “He serves on the executive committee of the Players Association even as he builds an impressive media company of his own. And what’s most inspiring, and no surprise given his talent and focus, is how he’s done all of this while embracing his unique opportunity to positively impact communities in need.”
Just this year, LeBron established the “I Promise” School, an innovative public school in his native Akron for third and fourth graders. He produced the Showtime documentary Shut Up and Dribble, which details the cultural impact of Black NBA players throughout the years. Also, the HBO show The Shop is extremely popular which features candid conversations from athletes and entertainers alike.
Congratulations to LeBron for his many accomplishments.