The star of the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA Lebron James was chosen as the Athlete of the Year 2020 by Time magazine.
James, whose great goal is to become the greatest player of all time in the NBA, guided the Lakers to a new champion title, the seventeenth in team history, but the first since 2010 when Kobe Bryant and the Spanish Pau Gasol.
The Lakers ‘success under James’ leadership came during a special and reduced season that had to be concluded in the Orlando ‘bubble’ due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It was also James’ fourth professional title and fourth Most Valuable Player (MVP) award at the Finals, honors that made him the first NBA player to win the award with three different teams. Only Michael Jordan, with six titles, has more.
Since then, James has extended his contract with the Lakers. He signed a new one for two years and $ 85 million, which will also allow him to have the opportunity to play with his oldest son, Bronny James, who is currently in high school.
The cover of Time features a painting of James by 14-year-old Tyler Gordon.
James, 35, has been one of the sport’s leading voices speaking out against the racial injustice and police brutality, and prior to the November US presidential elections he promoted voter registration and created the organization “More than a vote” in an effort to combat the suppression racist voter system.
The group is made up of prominent black athletes and artists who used their social media channels to encourage and educate their fans on how to cast their vote for this year’s election.
“He’s not just the best player,” Japanese tennis champion Naomi Osaka, who wore masks honoring victims of racial violence during her race to the US Open title last September, told Time, ” but has the most powerful voice“.
For his part, Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton, another athlete who spoke out against social injustice, also told Time that “when I saw across the pond that another elite athlete was also fighting for similar causes, I knew , okay, I’m not alone here. “
Last year the Time award went to the United States women’s national soccer team after winning the World Cup in France.
