Following a year in which he helped lead the 2012 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team to a gold medal, the USA Men’s National Team to an unblemished exhibition record and the Miami Heat to the 2012 NBA Championship,LeBron James (Miami Heat) was named the 2012 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year.

James is one of just two players in the history of the game to win MVP, the NBA Championship and the Olympics in the same year, along with Michael Jordan. James is now one of three U.S. players to participate in three Olympics. He owns two Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012) and one bronze (2004).

“It’s an honor that I have been named the 2012 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year,” James said. “It’s 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 my country and the game of basketball. It is an honor to be recognized with this award, it’s humbling.”

Starting in all eight Olympic wins for the USA, James averaged 13.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, a team-high 5.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 60.3 percent from the field July 29-Aug. 12 in London.

via USA Today Sports Official Statement