NBA: LeBron James (@KingJames ) Explains What It Would Mean To Him If He Wins 3rd MVP

Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

Since he was a young teen and he pasted hand-drawn pictures of Michael Jordan on his bedroom wall, LeBron James has been fascinated with the superstar players that came before him.

He’s watched some of Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Kareem Adbul-Jabbar’s greatest games on ESPN Classic, he’s studied Wilt Chamberlain and Moses Malone’s statistics and he was awe-struck the first time he met and had a conversation with Bill Russell.

It has given him a sense of history of the game that shapes his viewpoint and his aspirations. Right now, one of them is to join that group of Hall of Famers.

In the final week of his ninth regular season, James has emerged as a strong contender to win his third Most Valuable Player Award. If he wins, he would be just the ninth player in history to win it three times along with those mentioned above. Both James and Abdul-Jabbar would be the youngest to win three, both at age 27.

James is fully aware of this historical context.

“It would mean a lot, honestly, it would mean a lot,” James said. “If I’m able to win it this year it would be very humbling knowing the caliber of guys who have won it three times.”

“I remember me being a little, scrawny guy from Akron, Ohio, and watching so many greats either watching live or watching games, knowing and loving the history of the game and seeing the guys who have paved the way for myself. I’ve always respected that. I’ve always respected the talent that came before me.”

The difference between those players and James, of course, is that all of them owned championships by the time their careers were over. James does not have one. Chamberlain and Malone both won their third MVP in the year they got their first championship.

But that lack of a title to this point may not affect how the voters who select the MVP view James. In a sampling of veteran NBA journalists and broadcasters who decide the MVP, none said historical context would play a role on how they would vote on the award this year.

James’ case is reasonably strong. He’s averaging 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game. He’s also posting career highs in shooting, 3-point shooting and rebounding. The Heat are performing at a slightly higher pace than they did last year when it comes to winning percentage. And the team is 11-1 when James plays and Dwyane Wade does not.

“LeBron, to me, is the (MVP) favorite every year,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said last week. “If he doesn’t win it, it’s because people are tired of voting for him.”

James’ chief competition appears to be the Thunder’s Kevin Durant, who is averaging 27.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists and who had his team leading the West until a recent surge by the Spurs.

Though it is generally recognized as the highest individual honor in the sport and winning it virtually guarantees a spot in the Hall of Fame, the MVP is a regular season award. Kobe Bryanthas only won it once but with his five titles will be remembered as one of the greatest players of all time. Shaquille O’Neal retired with just one MVP yet won four titles.

Usually winning the MVP comes along with championships. In fact only three MVPs have retired without winning a title: Charles Barkley, Karl Malone and Allen Iverson. Steve Nash, Derrick Roseand James are on the clock.

The title pressure on James, however, does not change whether he is a two-time MVP, a three-time MVP or if he eventually becomes a four-time MVP (only Jordan, Russell, Abdul-Jabbar and Chamberlain have done that).

For now, James said, winning the award this year would be significant because of what happened in the 2010-11 season. Not just because of the scrutiny he battled after signing with the Heat but also because he felt he got away from his personality.

At the start of this season James made it a goal to return to playing with more enjoyment instead of the anger and resentment he felt had replaced it during his first season with the Heat. Winning the MVP, James said, would be an indication that he was back to being himself.

“It would be gratifying to know that just one year removed from what I came from,” James said.

“I’m just back to playing the way I play the game, with a lot of fun and a lot of joy and just not proving anything to anyone. Last year I felt I had to prove something to people. I have no idea why. But I got to that point and it took me away from why I love the game so much and I why I love the NBA. I got away from that. This year I got back to my seven years in Cleveland, my four years in high school and when I first picked up a basketball at age nine. That’s why I’m more excited about where I’m at today.”

-WRITTEN BY Brian Windhorst | ESPN.com & FULL STORY HERE