It's good to be the king, and even better after a second NBA crown.
LeBron James of the two-time defending NBA champion Miami Heat has been selected to be one of the top presenters at this year's ESPN Espy Awards on July 17. The awards show celebrates the best moments in sports during the year.
James will present the Arthur Ashe Courage Award to "Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts, a former athlete who now is a cancer survivor.
The Arthur Ashe Courage Award will recognize the strength and courage Roberts has displayed throughout her life and career.
The honor bestowed to James is just the latest example of a startling turnaround for the one-time pariah of professional basketball.
James was vilified in the summer of 2010 after announcing on ESPN in "The Decision" that he was leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to play alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami.
The criticism was directed in two ways. James, who is recognized as the best player in the game, was said to take the easy way out by joining forces with two fellow all-star players in another city, rather than stay in Cleveland and use his talent to lead the Cavaliers to a championship.
Non-supporters also denounced James for publicly humiliating the Cavaliers organization and the city of Cleveland by spurning them on a nationally televised event.
In fact, James was booed loudly during the 2010 Espy Awards. But he has led the Heat to three straight NBA Finals appearances, with Miami winning back-to-back championships the past two seasons.
James now is hailed as a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player selection (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013) and is being compared to former Chicago Bull Michael Jordan in talk about the greatest NBA player of all time.
ctor Ben Affleck will be on hand at the Espys to present the 2013 Jimmy V Perseverance Award to Boston Marathoner with cerebral palsy, Rick Hoyt, and his teammate father, Dick Hoyt.
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