12_aoy_male - USOC PressBox - United States Olympic Committee
12_aoy_male - USOC PressBox - United States Olympic Committee
12_aoy_male - USOC PressBox - United States Olympic Committee
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News Release<br />
5465 Mark Dabling Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80918-3842<br />
http://www.usabasketball.com<br />
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / Jan. 2, 20<strong>12</strong><br />
For further information contact Craig Miller, Caroline Williams or Jenny Maag at USA Basketball (719) 590-4800.<br />
*This release is also available on USA Basketball's World Wide Web homepage - http://www.usabasketball.com.<br />
USA Basketball Names LeBron James Its 20<strong>12</strong> Male Athlete Of The Year<br />
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 2, 20<strong>12</strong>) – Following a year in which he helped lead the 20<strong>12</strong> U.S.<br />
<strong>Olympic</strong> Men’s Basketball Team to a gold medal, the USA Men’s National Team to an unblemished exhibition<br />
record and the Miami Heat to the 20<strong>12</strong> NBA Championship, LeBron James (Miami Heat) was named the 20<strong>12</strong><br />
USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year.<br />
James is one of just two players in the history of the game to win MVP, the NBA Championship and the<br />
<strong>Olympic</strong>s in the same year, along with Michael Jordan.<br />
“It’s an honor that I have been named the 20<strong>12</strong> USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year,” James said. “It’s<br />
always an honor to represent my country. I never do it to be recognized or to receive an award, I do it because I love<br />
my country and the game of basketball. It is an honor to be recognized with this award, it’s humbling.”<br />
Starting in all eight <strong>Olympic</strong> wins for<br />
the USA, James averaged 13.3 points, 5.6<br />
rebounds, a team-high 5.6 assists and 1.4<br />
steals per game while shooting 60.3 percent<br />
from the field July 29–Aug. <strong>12</strong> in London.<br />
“LeBron was the central figure on this<br />
team,” said Mike Krzyzewski, USA and Duke<br />
head coach. “He was our leader, our best player,<br />
our playmaker. He led us in assists, 45 assists<br />
and only eight turnovers, and he did that having<br />
just won an NBA championship, being MVP of<br />
the finals and of the league, so he was very<br />
unselfish. I thought he really showed amazing<br />
leadership. His ability to communicate with<br />
everyone, that means players and coaches, and<br />
get us all on the same page was really<br />
incredible. I’m so proud of him.”<br />
James is now one of three U.S. players<br />
USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year<br />
20<strong>12</strong> LeBron James<br />
1995 Ray Allen<br />
2011 Jabari Parker<br />
1994 Shaquille O’Neal<br />
2010 Kevin Durant 1993 Michael Finley<br />
2009 James McAdoo 1992 U.S. <strong>Olympic</strong> Team<br />
2008 USA Men’s <strong>Olympic</strong> Team 1991 Christian Laettner<br />
2007 Jason Kidd 1990 Alonzo Mourning<br />
2006 Carmelo Anthony 1989 Larry Johnson<br />
2005 Shelden Williams 1988 Dan Majerle<br />
2004 Sean May/Chris Paul 1987 Danny Manning<br />
2003 Tim Duncan 1986 David Robinson<br />
2002 Reggie Miller 1985 Chuck Person<br />
2001 Chris Duhon 1984 Michael Jordan/Sam Perkins<br />
2000 Alonzo Mourning 1983 Michael Jordan<br />
1999 Gary Payton 1982 Glenn Rivers<br />
1998 Elton Brand 1981 Kevin Boyle<br />
1997 Earl Boykins 1980 Isaiah Thomas<br />
1996 Scottie Pippen<br />
to participate in three <strong>Olympic</strong>s. He owns two <strong>Olympic</strong> gold medals (2008, 20<strong>12</strong>) and one bronze (2004).<br />
“LeBron is very deserving of this award, and USA Basketball is proud to celebrate his performance in 20<strong>12</strong>,<br />
as well as his commitment to playing for his country,” said Jim Tooley, USA Basketball Executive Director/CEO.<br />
“He was a great teammate during the <strong>Olympic</strong>s, and his leadership was invaluable to the team’s success.”
USA Basketball’s Male Athlete of the Year Award was established in 1980 to recognize a USA Basketball<br />
athlete who, during the year of the award, made a significant impact on the success of his team’s performance. The<br />
USA Basketball Board of Directors is responsible for selecting USA Basketball’s annual awards.<br />
James joins an impressive list of past recipients, including: Kevin Durant (2010), Jason Kidd (2007),<br />
Carmelo Anthony (2006), Chris Paul (2004), Tim Duncan (2003), Reggie Miller (2002), Alonzo Mourning (2000,<br />
1990), Gary Payton (1999), Elton Brand (1998), Earl Boykins (1997), Scottie Pippen (1996 and as a member of the<br />
1992 U.S. <strong>Olympic</strong> Team), Ray Allen (1995), Shaquille O’Neal (1994), Michael Finley (1993), Christian Laettner<br />
(1991), Larry Johnson (1989), Dan Marjerle (1988), Danny Manning (1987), David Robinson (1986 and as a<br />
member of the 1992 U.S. <strong>Olympic</strong> Team), Chuck Person (1985), Michael Jordan (1984, 1983 and as a member of<br />
the 1992 U.S. <strong>Olympic</strong> Team), Sam Perkins (1984) and Isaiah Thomas (1980).<br />
Among all competitors at the 20<strong>12</strong> <strong>Olympic</strong> games, James ranked No. 2 in assists (45), No. 7 in assists<br />
averaged (1.4) and No. 9 in points (106) and field goal percentage (.603).<br />
With the USA trailing Lithuania 82-80 in the fourth quarter of preliminary round play, LeBron scored<br />
nine of his 20 points in the last four minutes to help the U.S. to a hard-fought 99-94 win.<br />
In the quarterfinal game against Australia on Aug. 8, James finished with 11 points, 14 rebounds and <strong>12</strong><br />
assists for the first triple-double in U.S. <strong>Olympic</strong> history and just the second triple-double in the <strong>Olympic</strong>s<br />
overall (since assists were kept as an official statistic in 1976). His <strong>12</strong> assists tied the all-time U.S. <strong>Olympic</strong><br />
single-game high, and his 14 rebounds tied the overall 20<strong>12</strong> <strong>Olympic</strong> single-game high.<br />
In the gold medal game against Spain on Aug. <strong>12</strong>, James tallied 19 points, seven rebounds and dished<br />
out a team-high four assists.<br />
In the U.S. <strong>Olympic</strong> career record book, James is tied with David Robinson for most games played (24)<br />
and lists No. 1 in points scored (273), field goals made (113) and assists (88), as well as No. 2 in rebounds (95)<br />
and field goals attempted (188), No. 3 in field goals made (78) and 3-pointers attempted (58), tied for No.3 in<br />
steals (36), tied for No. 4 in 3-pointers made (22) and tied for No. 5 in blocked shots (10).<br />
Prior to the <strong>Olympic</strong>s, James helped lead the 20<strong>12</strong> USA Men’s National Team to a 5-0 exhibition slate<br />
from July <strong>12</strong>–24 with games against Dominican Republic, Brazil, Great Britain, Argentina and Spain.<br />
During the five exhibition wins, James started in all five games and led the team with 18.6 points per<br />
game to go along with 4.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game in 25.8 minutes per game, and he shot<br />
59.0 percent from the field and 50.0 from 3-point.<br />
Also in 20<strong>12</strong>, James led the Miami Heat to the NBA Championship and earned a third NBA MVP award<br />
and his first NBA Finals MVP award. He started and played in 57 games in 2011-<strong>12</strong>, and averaged 37.5<br />
minutes, 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting career highs of 53.1<br />
percent from the field, 36.2 percent from 3-point and 77.1 percent from the foul line. He finished 2011-<strong>12</strong><br />
ranked No. 1 in efficiency ranking, No. 2 in field goals made and free throws made and attempted, No. 3 in<br />
points per game, No. 4 in steals per game and field goals attempted and No. 6 in minutes per game.<br />
USA Basketball<br />
Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national<br />
governing body for men's and women's basketball in the <strong>United</strong> <strong>States</strong>. As the recognized governing body for<br />
basketball in the U.S. by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the <strong>United</strong> <strong>States</strong> <strong>Olympic</strong><br />
<strong>Committee</strong> (<strong>USOC</strong>), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection; training and fielding of USA teams that<br />
compete in FIBA sponsored international basketball competitions, as well as for some national competitions.
USA teams are the current men's and women's champions in the <strong>Olympic</strong>s, men's and women's FIBA<br />
World Championships; women’s FIBA U19 World Champions; men's and women's FIBA U17 World<br />
Champions; and the men's and women's U18 and U16 FIBA Americas Championships; as well as the women’s<br />
FIBA 3X3 World Championship and 3x3 U18 World Championship.<br />
USA Basketball also currently ranks No. 1 in all five of FIBA's world ranking categories, including<br />
combined, men's, women's, boys and girls.