James wins MVP award

Unstoppable at both ends of the court this season, LeBron James claimed the title of league most valuable player on Monday.

The Cleveland Cavaliers star received 109 of a possible 121 first-place votes to easily outdistance the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant. James had 1,172 points in balloting by media members in the U.S. and Canada.

Bryant, last year’s winner, got two first-place votes and had 698 points. Miami guard Dwyane Wade was third with 680 points, followed by Orlando center Dwight Howard and New Orleans guard Chris Paul.

James is the first Cavaliers player to win the award. He averaged 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.2 assists this season, his sixth as a pro. He also finished second in voting for defensive player of the year.

James credited his teammates for raising their games in the Cavaliers’ best season ever.

“You look at those 14 guys over there, I got the award because of them,” James said.

--

Etc.

Denver forward Kenyon Martin was fined $25,000 by the NBA for knocking down Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki in the opener of their second-round playoff series. . . . New Jersey guard Keyon Dooling had successful surgery to remove loose particles from his right hip.