The Associated Press announced today that Miami Heat star and current NBA MVP LeBron James was voted top male athlete for 2013. James received 31 of the 96 votes cast, beating Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning's 20 votes and NASCAR race driver Jimmie Johnson's 7 votes.
James becomes only the third NBA star to be named AP Male Athlete of the Year. Previously, only Michael Jordan and Larry Bird have been named top athlete. Apparently, 2013 has been a good year for James. In addition to helping the Miami Heat defend their title and win the championship again, James was also selected for the fourth time as the NBA’s most valuable player.
On being named as the top male athlete, James said in an interview with AP reporters, “I’m chasing something and it's bigger than me as a basketball player. I can inspire people. Youth is huge to me. If I can get kids to look at me as a role model, as a leader, a superhero, those things mean so much, and that's what I think I was built for. I was put here for this great game of basketball, but I don't think this is the largest role for me."
AP has been naming the top athletes of the year since 1931. Other winners of the award include boxer Muhammad Ali, Olympian Carl Lewis and golfer Tiger woods. This year the AP's top female athlete of the year is tennis player Serena Williams.
According to James, he hasn't changed much from prior years but rather there’s been gradual improvements and maturity as a "basketball player, leader, father, husband and friend."
Next summer will be big for James. He will become a free agent again and therefore be able to "opt out" of playing for Miami if a better offer from another team is available. James says he hasn't given it much thought yet and that he is focused on winning this season in Miami. According to James, he has no time for thinking about anything else.