LeBron James of the Miami Heat is the winner of the Maurice Podoloff Trophy as the 2011-12 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award, the NBA announced today. James earns the honor for the third time in four seasons and becomes the first player since Michael Jordan to win at least three MVPs.  Read more after the jump.

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James led the Heat to a 46-20 mark and the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Despite averaging a career-low 37.5 minutes, the eight-time All-Star led the NBA in plus-minus score differential (+7.6) and ranked third in scoring (27.1 ppg), while pacing the Heat in assists (6.2 apg) and tying for the team lead in rebounds (7.9 rpg). In addition, James established career bests in field goal percentage (.531) and three-point field goal percentage (.362).

2011-12 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award Results
Player, Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Total Points
LeBron James, Miami 85 25 9 1 1 1074
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City 24 83 13 1 0 889
Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers 6 5 32 35 25 385
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 2 5 30 39 30 352
Tony Parker, San Antonio 4 3 31 31 22 331
Kevin Love, Minnesota 0 0 4 6 20 58
Dwight Howard, Orlando 0 0 1 1 5 13
Rajon Rondo, Boston 0 0 0 2 6 12
Steve Nash, Phoenix 0 0 0 1 4 7
Derrick Rose, Chicago 0 0 1 0 0 5
Dwyane Wade, Miami 0 0 0 1 3 6
Russell Westbrook, OKC 0 0 0 1 1 4
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas 0 0 0 1 1 4
Tim Duncan, San Antonio 0 0 0 1 0 3
Joe Johnson, Atlanta 0 0 0 0 1 1

NBA