In Pictures: NBA’s MVP LeBron James

James received a near unanimous 120 first-place votes from the panel of 121 sports writers and broadcasters on the award panel [AFP]

Oklahoma Thunder(***)s Kevin Durant finished second and the New York Knicks(***) Carmelo Anthony was awarded third place [AFP]

It(***)s the fourth time in five years that 28-year-old James has won the game(***)s most prestigious individual award [Reuters]

Only four other players - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain - have won the trophy at least four times, with Abdul-Jabbar holding the record for six MVP wins [EPA]

James has had an outstanding season, shooting a career-high from the field (.565) and from three-point range (.406). He also went on a a record streak of six straight games with at least 30 points and a .600-or-better field goal percentage [EPA]

"When people ask me, I tell them I just try to be the best player on the court every night I step on the floor," James said [EPA]