LeBron James won his 3rd-career Kia NBA MVP award with the Miami Heat during the 2011-12 campaign. The Miami Heat have had some of the best players in NBA history play for their franchise. However, only LeBron James has won a regular-season MVP award with the team. Let’s highlight the two stellar campaigns that resulted in him achieving the honor.
LeBron James – 2011-12 Kia MVP
James had amassed plenty of accolades before joining the Heat. He won the Rookie of the Year award, made six All-Star teams and won two regular season MVP awards with the Cavaliers to begin his career. He then signed with the Heat prior to the 2010-11 campaign. In his first season with the Heat, James finished third in MVP voting. In 2011-12, James won his first MVP award with the Heat by averaging 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game. It was an efficient scoring campaign with him shooting 53.1% from the field. His scoring average ranked third in the NBA behind Kevin Durant (28.0) and Kobe Bryant (27.9). James was even better for the Heat in the playoffs that season, averaging 30.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.9 steals over 23 games. He won his first NBA title and was named Finals MVP. LeBron James – 2012-13 Kia MVP
In his second season with the Heat, James claimed yet another MVP award. It marked the second time in his career that he won back-to-back MVPs. His scoring average dipped slightly to 26.8 points per game, but he also averaged 8.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.7 steals while shooting 56.5% from the field. That included him shooting 40.6% from behind the arc. In addition to being named the MVP, James finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year voting. Not only did James win his second straight regular season MVP with the Heat, but he also took home his second straight Finals MVP with the team winning another title. Across 23 playoff games that season, James averaged 25.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game. James played the 2013-14 season with the Heat, finishing second in MVP voting and sixth for the Defensive Player of the Year award. Following that season, James returned to play for the Cavaliers. Over 294 career regular season games with the Heat, James averaged 26.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.7 steals. James went on to win a title with the Cavaliers and another as a member of the Lakers.
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