LeBron James chosen Sportsperson of Year by Sports Illustrated

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- LeBron James has been chosen Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year after leading theCleveland Cavalierstoan NBA title and ending the city's 52-year championship drought.

"I know it's a great achievement, and I've heard the history of it and how honored I should be to get it," James said Thursday. "... You guys know how I am about individual awards and things of that nature -- it doesn't hit me or nothing to that magnitude. But I'm honored that they have chosen me.

"I'm more happy for my family, my kids, for my wife, my mom and for my foundation, for the kids that I represent and the kids that use me as a role model and an inspiration. I'm more happy for them. For me, it's an honor -- I'm happy about it -- but it doesn't hit me. I don't know. Seriously, I really don't know how to feel about it."

James rallied the Cavs in the NBA Finals to defeat the favored Golden State Warriors, who won 73 games during the regular season. James was selected Finals MVP for the third time in his career after Cleveland became the first team to overcome a 3-1 deficit.

James scored 41 points in both Games 5 and 6 and made a key block in the final minutes of Game 7.

James joinsTiger Woodsas the only two-time winners of the award.

"It's hard to remember a year with such a crowded field of Sportsperson candidates," said Chris Stone, SI's editor in chief. "But in the end, LeBron James was the clear choice."

The 31-year-old James has won four league MVPs. He returned to Cleveland in 2014 after four seasons in Miami, where he led the Heat to four straight finals and two titles.

ESPN staff writer Dave McMenamin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.