Source: Xinhua

05-05-2009 08:45

WASHINGTON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- 24-year-old LeBron James, super star of Cleveland Cavalier, was crowned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2008-2009 NBA regular season on Monday.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James goes  to the basket past Detroit Pistons guard  Richard Hamilton during the first half of Game 4 of their NBA Eastern Conference playoff  series in Auburn Hills, Michigan April 26,  2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

It was announced a day before the Cavaliers begin their second-round series against the Atlanta Hawks. They trounced the Detroit Pistons four games in a row in the previous round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

James, the first Cavaliers player by winning the award, finished second in voting for defensive player of the year.

At 24 years and 125 days old, he became the youngest player to win the award since Moses Malone (24 years, 16 days) in 1978-79 Season. Wes Unseld was 23 when he won it in 1968-69 Season.

James started a career-high 81 games and recorded personal bests in field-goal (49%) and free-throw (79%) percentages. He became just the second player to post five straight seasons of at least 27 points, six rebounds and six assists.