National Basketball Association

LeBron James chosen Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of Year

Published Dec. 1, 2016 10:24 a.m. ET

foxsports

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) LeBron James has been chosen Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year after leading the Cavaliers to an NBA title and ending Cleveland's 52-year championship drought.

James rallied the Cavs in the NBA Finals to defeat the favored Golden State Warriors, who won 73 games during the regular season. James was selected finals MVP for the third time in his career after Cleveland became the first team to overcome a 3-1 deficit.

James scored 41 points in Games 5 and 6 and made a key block in the final minutes of Game 7.

James joins Tigers Woods as the only two-time winners of the award.

The 31-year-old James has won three league MVPs. He returned to Cleveland in 2014 after four seasons in Miami, where he led the Heat to four straight finals and two titles.