Ohio has more of a football legacy than a basketball one. That said, the Buckeye State did produce arguably the greatest basketball player of all time in LeBron James. And the King loves nothing more than representing the OH-IO. He proved it back in 2009 when he won his first Most Valuable Player Award in the NBA.<\/p>\n
James was a force during the Cavaliers<\/a>\u2018 2008-2009 campaign. He averaged 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game, and shot just under 50% from the field. All of that at just 24 years old. It wouldn\u2019t be LBJ\u2019s last MVP, but this one meant something special to him, and he wanted to share it with the place he called home.<\/p>\n So when the time came for LeBron<\/a> to receive the MVP award, he opted to do it where it all began, his high school, St. Vincent\u2013St. Mary High School in Akron. Cameras followed The King around all day, and now, thanks to an X account, NBA history has once again resurfaced on the internet.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving the trophy, the MVP trophy just six years removed from graduation, it\u2019s unbelievable I think,\u201d stated James at the time while he was in the locker room preparing for the ceremony. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t be able to do it without those guys that\u2019s on the wall there, and those guys that\u2019s out there as my teammates, man.\u201d<\/p>\n LeBron James receiving his first MVP in 2009 at his High School was a special moment:<\/p>\n \u201cHaving the MVP trophy just 6 years removed from graduation is unbelievable.\u201d<\/p>\n (via @NBAHistory<\/a>)<\/p>\n pic.twitter.com\/dnIXHRu1yk<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) August 30, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n The footage then cut to James at the podium in front of a large Akron crowd, who were ecstatic to watch one of their own put Ohio on the map. \u201cYou never think that someone from Akron, Ohio would be able to be the MVP of the NBA,\u201d James stated to the audience.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd to do the things, what I\u2019m trying to continue to do as a basketball player and a person, there\u2019s really not a better place then to have the ceremony here,\u201d he added, which got a huge ovation.<\/p>\n He was right to. James not only went on to cement himself as the league\u2019s all-time leading scorer, but he also led the Cavs to the NBA Finals five times<\/a> and secured a championship in 2016. But it was things he did off the basketball court too that will forever immortalize him in the Buckeye State.<\/p>\n He opened the I PROMISE School, a public school aimed at helping at-risk kids, and even set up scholarships for graduates to go to college. Beyond education, he\u2019s invested in community programs, local jobs, and even built housing for families in need. LeBron\u2019s making sure Akron thrives long after he\u2019s done playing.<\/p>\n James is about to enter his 23rd season in the NBA as a member of the LA Lakers<\/a>, a team he also won a title for in 2020. The magic that he continues to bring, even at 40 years old, is unmatched. Yet, you can tell that his first MVP meant the world to him because of where he got to receive it.<\/p>\n That\u2019s just who LeBron is. He\u2019s always been more than just a basketball player. He\u2019s a hometown hero who never forgets where he came from. That moment captured why LeBron isn\u2019t just a champion in the game, but a champion for his city.<\/p>\n