Basketball and football may be America's games, but they've produced relatively few award winners for the Associated Press's Athlete of the Year Award. Lebron James won this year, according to the AP's announcement on Thursday, making him just the third NBA player to do so since 1938. Six NFL players won during that time span (and a host of college football players before professional football found its footing).

James won his second straight MVP award (his fourth in five years) and second straight NBA title after going the first eight years without a coveted ring. His most impressive achievement, besides learning to win in the finals (mostly), was his sharp shooting marks, including nearly 57 percent from the field and over 40 percent from the three point line -- an exceedingly rare combo (though he missed the vaunted 90-50-40 club by shooting just 75 percent from the line). James is actually shooting even better this season, hitting a near-absurd 60 percent of his field goal attempts. His efficient shot-making has complemented a more team-oriented approach in which he's touching the ball less (at least overall; lately, not so much); his scoring, assists, and rebounding are all down slightly.

The road to James's second championship was nearly as difficult as his first. After mostly breezing through the first two rounds, the Heat played the Pacers to a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference before unleashing the full force of their talents in a blowout victory. Against the Spurs, they likely shouldn't have even won the series if not for a wild, last second sequence in game 6 that ended in a Ray Allen corner three-pointer. James had a triple double and 32 points that game (but shot just 11-for-26) and had one of his best playoff games ever in game 7 with 37 points, 12 rebounds, and just two turnovers.

Marked primarily by the Spurs' up and coming forward, Kawhi Leonard, James' drive was given quite a bit more respect than his shot. For once, Poppovich's strategy backfired as Lebron hit 5 of 10 from three and quite a few mid-range jump shots while Kawhi crouched several feet from his waist. As good as Lebron was, including the fourth quarter of game 7 in which he was nearly unstoppable at times, he had a few "Cleveland" moments towards the end of both game 6 and 7 (a few puzzling turnovers and poor shots). If the Spurs capitalized, Lebron wouldn't have that second ring or the AP's award.

But the crux of the Lebron James story is that he was also the main reason why the Spurs didn't benefit from his mistakes. His spectacular play all season and his effort at the defensive end set the tone for the Heat's smothering blanket in game 6 and 7, rendering both Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker (whom James guarded for significant stretches during the series) ineffective in the clutch.

Lebron is still probably the most intriguing member of the NBA for this fact: if he can clean up the mistakes he made during the Spurs series and maintain or even exceed the level basketball he played, the Heat will likely win a third title this year and Lebron's legend will continue to grow (maybe to the point where he commands universal respect instead of just near-universal respect). I want to predict the Pacers, but history says their too young. It looks like the winner of OKC-Spurs will have the best chance. OKC is my bet, but I'm also a Heat-hater.