Los Angeles Lakers star, LeBron James has been named, TIME magazine’s Athlete of the Year In recognition of what he has achieved both on and off the court.
He is the first player in NBA history to win the accolade with three different teams.
The 35-year-old James led the Lakers to a record-equalling 17th championship title in October but his recognition is for what he has achieved both on and off the court according to TIME.
Due to the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NBA was forced this year to manufacture a bubble in Orlando while allowing this year’s season to finish.
The Lakers will open their 2020-21 NBA campaign against the LA Clippers on Dec. 22 and still will have no fans in attendance for home games in the upcoming season.
LeBron James (@KingJames) is TIME's 2020 Athlete of the Year #TIMEPOY https://t.co/hmFnqCHRPd pic.twitter.com/SskYijwu2E
— TIME (@TIME) December 10, 2020
According to CTV News, James has been one of sport’s leading voices in speaking out against racial injustice and police brutality, and ahead of this November’s U.S. presidential election, he promoted voter registration, setting up the organization “More Than A Vote” in an effort to combat systemic, racist voter suppression.
Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton, another athlete to speak out against social injustice, also told TIME: “When I saw across the pond that another top athlete was also fighting for similar causes, I knew, OK, I’m not alone here.”
