LeBron James, of the Cleveland Cavaliers, was named NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) on Monday, accepting the honour in the high school gym that was the launch pad for his career.

James, who averaged 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists this season to lead the team to a franchise record 66 wins, received the award at St Vincent-St Mary high school in Akron, Ohio where he first shot to prominence as a teenager before jumping directly to the NBA.

"This school helped me become the man I am today," he said after becoming at 24 years and 125 days the youngest player to win the award which is voted by sportswriters and broadcasters.

"You would never think someone from Akron, Ohio would be able to do the things we did growing up and what I'm trying to continue to do as a basketball player and a person."

'King' James has already played six seasons in the NBA and in two Olympics, helping the US to gold in Beijing last year.

James received 109 out of a possible 121 first-place votes to beat two of his US team-mates, last year's MVP Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade.

He becomes the first member of the Cavaliers to claim the honour.

"He really is, to a lot of people, a most valuable person."

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