LeBron going for Defensive Player plum

MANILA, Philippines - For someone often called the best basketball player on the planet, Miami Heat forward LeBron James said the other day there is one individual award that has escaped him in the NBA and it’s a recognition he’ll cherish more than scoring titles, MVPs and other flattering citations if it ever comes.

James, 28, pointed to the Defensive Player of the Year award as his goal to achieve. This past season, Memphis center Marc Gasol took the honor and the year before, it was Tyson Chandler. Before Chandler, Dwight Howard won the award three seasons in a row. Kevin Garnett was the last forward to be cited in 2007-08.

“I don’t really get too involved with individual accolades, honestly,” said James in an exclusive interview with The Star at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. “When they happen, I’m very humbled by it. I put a lot of hard work into my individual game but I don’t know. I really want the Defensive Player of the Year (award), that’s what I want and if I can obtain it, that will be the one I’ll most cherish.”

James’ collection of awards lists Rookie of the Year, four regular season MVPs, two Finals MVPs and two All-Star Game MVPs. He also topped the NBA in scoring in 2008 and has been named to the league’s All-Defensive First Team the last five years. James has won two NBA titles with the Heat so far. In 10 seasons as a pro, James has averaged 27.6 points in 765 total games. He spent his first seven years with the Cleveland Cavaliers then moved to Miami, leading the Heat to the Finals every year since his arrival.

Aside from leading Miami to two NBA crowns, James has also played on the US squad that bagged the gold medal at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. James said winning for the country is as important as winning in the NBA but confessed that representing the US in international competitions is the ultimate. “They’re both important,” he said. “I can’t single out which is more important. To be part of the United States of America team, to be able to represent your country, it’s the ultimate. Going out there to win a gold medal for our country means a lot. Playing for the Heat and winning two championships is very important to me as well, to be able to go out there and win a championship for the fans at our arena, the people who work for us, my teammates, the coaching staff. They’re both hand in hand (in importance).”

James said with his multiple roles in Miami coach Erik Spoelstra’s system, he never backs down from any challenge. “Coach Spo and I talk a lot about strategies and all that, he knows whatever it takes (to win),” he said. “Spo looks at me and says I need it all from you and I take that responsibility and challenge.”

Asked about how Indiana and San Antonio exposed Miami’s weakness at center during the last NBA playoffs, James didn’t seem too concerned in addressing the issue for next season. “I think it’s a collective group (effort),” he said. “We all know how to help each other. We have to help our bigs and our bigs have to help us. We know we’re not the biggest team in the NBA but that doesn’t define anything. It’s about the heart and desire to win and we have that.”

James said in the biggest game of his life, he’d prefer to take the court with his Heat teammates. “If it’s the biggest game of my life, I’d like to go out there and play with my Heat teammates,” he said. “These are the guys I’ve been with, who’ve been through everything. We’ve seen it all and there’s nothing you can show us that we haven’t seen before. I want those guys out there on the floor with me.”

As for the toughest players he’s defended, James mentioned no names. “The toughest guy I’ve ever defended, I don’t know,” he said. “There have been great point guards, shooting guards, wing guys, power forwards and centers. I think I’ve guarded players in every position. It’s always a challenge when you guard someone smaller than you but quicker or bigger than you and stronger. Whomever you defend, you just have to take the challenge and play your hardest.”

James arrived in Manila accompanied by his personal staff and Nike officials aboard a private jet from Los Angeles last Monday afternoon. He left yesterday morning for China where he is scheduled to visit Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai for a week. After his Asia trip, James will return home and keep his altar date with high school sweetheart Savannah Brinson on the weekend of Sept. 13-15 in San Diego. Brinson is the mother of their two children LeBron Jr., 8 and Bryce Maximus, 6.

Before James was whisked to a private Makati Shangri-La Hotel room for six one-on-one interviews, he appeared in a 20-minute press conference at the Rizal Ballroom. James spoke about how Spoelstra, who is half Filipino, proudly boasts about the Filipino’s passion for basketball and paid tribute to his first coach Frank Walker who introduced him to the game at the age of nine.

“Coach Frank taught me to play the game the right way,” said James. “No matter how good one player is, it takes a full team to win a championship. The first time I played organized basketball, we won a championship because we knew how to play the game the right way.” James saw action with the St. Vincent-St. Mary’s high school varsity then in 2003, went straight to the NBA without passing through college. He was the Cavaliers’ first overall draft pick. In 2007, James led Cleveland to the NBA Finals where the Cavs were swept by the San Antonio Spurs. This past season, King James finally avenged the loss as he led Miami to an exciting 4-3 series victory over the Spurs for the NBA title.