CLEVELAND (AP).- LeBron James fue seleccionado el martes como el novato del año en la NBA, coronando una formidable temporada en la que sacó del fondo a los Cavaliers de Cleveland.
El «chico maravilla» de 19 años cumplió con todas las expectativas que se formaron a su alrededor tras su salto directo al profesionalismo desde la escuela secundaria. Es el basquetbolista más joven que gana el galardón.
James superó a Carmelo Anthony de Denver y quien también tiene 19 años.
Anthony jugó una temporada en el básquetbol universitario, llevando a Syracuse al título nacional.
James acaparó 508 puntos, incluyendo 78 de los 118 posibles para el primer lugar. Es la primera vez que un novato de los Cavaliers gana el premio.
Anthony sumó 430 puntos, y se llevó los otros 40 votos a primero, en la votación realizada por un panel de periodistas. Tercero fue Dwyane Wade del Heat de Miami con 117 puntos.
James promedió 20,9 puntos, 5,5 rebotes y 5,9 asistencias, emulando las cifras de Oscar Robertson y Michael Jordan como los únicos novatos en la historia de la NBA con un 20-5-5.
Tras compilar una marca de 17-65 la temporada 2002-03, los Cavaliers cerraron la última con registro de 35-47. Quedaron novenos en la Conferencia del Este, apenas una plaza atrás del pase a los playoffs.
James no sólo transformó a los Cavaliers en un rival a tomar en serio, sino que brilló pese a que cada una de sus actuaciones eran vistas con lupa.
Asimismo, se convirtió en la gran atracción de una liga deseosa de encontrar un heredero a Jordan, con llenos completos en las arenas y recibiendo millonarios contratos de publicidad.
LeBron James, the super-hyped phenom who went from high school to the pros and kept the Cleveland Cavaliers in playoff contention until late in the season, has beaten out Carmelo Anthony in voting for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award.
A source with knowledge of the vote tally, speaking on condition of anonymity, said James will be presented with the award Tuesday.
James averaged 20.9 points, 5.9 assists and 5.5 rebounds, drawing 16 sellout crowds to the Cavs’ home arena and several more on the road. James’ popularity made his jersey the best seller at the NBA’s store in New York and through the league’s Web site, and he helped the Cavs improve from 17 wins to 35.
Anthony led the Denver Nuggets into the playoffs, averaging 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists. But James, 19, was only the third rookie in NBA history to average at least 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists, joining Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan.
His season-high was 41 points on March 27 against New Jersey made him the youngest player in league history to reach 40 points. James scored at least 30 points 13 times.
James was the Eastern Conference’s rookie of the month in every month this season. He will become the first player in Cavs history to win the award.
«I won’t comment on it until I know it’s official,» said James’ agent, Aaron Goodwin.
Anthony, in Minneapolis for Game 1 of his team’s playoff series against the Timberwolves, released a statement through a team spokesman: «If it’s true, I’m really happy for LeBron, but I’m not real worried about the Rookie of the Year award right now. My focus is on Minnesota.»
Cleveland finished in ninth place in the Eastern Conference _ one game behind No. 8 Boston.
«We would have been dangerous in the playoffs,» said coach Paul Silas, who proved to be the perfect coach for James and the young Cavs. «I think a lot of teams would have been afraid to play us.»
Entering the season, Silas figured James would average «around 12 points,» but he didn’t know what else to expect from his talented rookie other than a media circus.
Now Silas has a better handle on James _ and how good he can be.
«One of the greats,» Silas said after the season ended. «There’s no telling how good he’ll be. He’s 19. Three years from now, he’ll be 22 and the same age as a senior in college.
«All he has to do is work on his shot. He has everything else.»
2004 _ LeBron James, Cleveland
2003 _ Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix
2002 _ Pau Gasol, Memphis
2001 _ Mike Miller, Orlando
2000 _ Elton Brand, Chicago, and Steve Francis, Houston
1999 _ Vince Carter, Toronto
1998 _ Tim Duncan, San Antonio
1997 _ Allen Iverson, Philadelphia
1996 _ Damon Stoudamire, Toronto
1995 _ Grant Hill, Detroit, and Jason Kidd, Dallas
1994 _ Chris Webber, Golden State
1993 _ Shaquille O’Neal, Orlando
1992 _ Larry Johnson, Charlotte
1991 _ Derrick Coleman, New Jersey
1990 _ David Robinson, San Antonio
1989 _ Mitch Richmond, Golden State
1988 _ Mark Jackson, New York
1987 _ Chuck Person, Indiana
1986 _ Patrick Ewing, New York
1985 _ Michael Jordan, Chicago
1984 _ Ralph Sampson, Houston
1983 _ Terry Cummings, San Diego
1982 _ Buck Williams, New Jersey
1981 _ Darrell Griffith, Utah
1980 _ Larry Bird, Boston
1979 _ Phil Ford, Kansas City
1978 _ Walter Davis, Phoenix
1977 _ Adrian Dantley, Buffalo
1976 _ Alvan Adams, Phoenix
1975 _ Keith Wilkes, Golden State
1974 _ Ernie DiGregorio, Buffalo
1973 _ Bob McAdoo, Buffalo
1972 _ Sidney Wicks, Portland
1971 _ Dave Cowens, Boston, and Geoff Petrie, Portland
1970 _ Lew Alcindor, Milwaukee
1969 _ Wes Unseld, Baltimore
1968 _ Earl Monroe, Baltimore
1967 _ Dave Bing, Detroit
1966 _ Rick Barry, San Francisco
1965 _ Willis Reed, New York
1964 _ Jerry Lucas, Cincinnati
1963 _ Terry Dischinger, Chicago
1962 _ Walt Bellamy, Chicago
1961 _ Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati
1960 _ Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia
1959 _ Elgin Baylor, Minneapolis
1958 _ Woody Sauldsberry, Philadelphia
1957 _ Tom Heinsohn, Boston
1956 _ Maurice Stokes, Rochester
1955 _ Bob Pettit, Milwaukee
1954 _ Ray Felix, Baltimore
1953 _ Don Meineke, Fort Wayne