Los Angeles Lakers star player LeBron James has once again proven his outstanding basketball skills by winning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the first-ever NBA In-Season Tournament. This honor comes after the Lakers impressive 123-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night.
James’ outstanding performance was crucial in the Lakers’ win against one of the strongest offenses in the league. The four-time league MVP finished the game with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists in 35 minutes. In terms of shooting efficiency, he went 10-for-21 in field goal attempts.
KING JAMES IS THE NBA TOURNAMENT MVP 🏆 pic.twitter.com/E61rvTcCqa
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 10, 2023
Throughout the tournament, the 38-year-old James continuously delivered class performances. He led the Lakers to big victories, including a quarterfinal win over the Phoenix Suns and a semifinal win against the New Orleans Pelicans. In the quarterfinals, James outperformed Kevin Durant by scoring 31 points, 11 assists, and a season-high five steals, leading to a 106-103 win over the Suns.
James continued his outstanding performance against the Pelicans, scoring 30 points in just 23 minutes. He went 9 of 12 field goal attempts and maintained a perfect record from the three-point range. This performance was highlighted by an amazing moment in the first half, where he made three straight shots from behind the arc.
The NBA In-Season Tournament MVP was selected by a panel of media and fan votes. Complete results below ⬇️ https://t.co/tCSthVyH6T pic.twitter.com/4EqOhnL549
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 10, 2023
The 19-time All-Star entered the final game ranked second on the NBA’s In-Season Tournament MVP ladder, just behind Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton. But James’ outstanding performance and the Lakers’ victory secured him the MVP trophy. The MVP was decided by a panel of media members and fans, with James receiving 14 out of 20 media votes and 3 out of 5 fan votes.
LeBron James reveals his extra efforts to win the tournament
After winning the MVP title, LeBron James shared his motivations for putting maximum effort into winning the NBA In-Season Tournament. James emphasized his role in maintaining engagement and excitement for the game.
He was motivated by responsibility towards his younger teammates and the Lakers’ fan base. James stated that many of his younger teammates had yet to experience playoff basketball and their paychecks were different from seasoned players. This difference motivated him to make sure that everyone, including fans who may lose interest during the December and January months, remained fully engaged with the game.
James’ efforts had a major financial impact on his teammates, especially those on lower salaries. Each player on the Lakers received a huge bonus of $500,000, proving how much James cares for his team and the basketball community.