HoopsHype.com Rumors

Howard Beck: Give Fred Hickman credit for explaining his Allen Iverson vote in 2000. Hope we get the same from the voter who went for Carmelo this year. Twitter @HowardBeckNYT

Miami Heat, New York Knicks, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Fred Hickman 

Chris Tomasson: Fred Hickman got death threats for being only guy in 00 not vote for Shaq “I’m available for counseling for (possible lone) voter,’’ he said Twitter @christomasson

Miami Heat, New York Knicks, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Fred Hickman 

Jeff Zillgitt: MVP in order: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, James Harden, Russell Westbrook Twitter @JeffZillgitt

LeBron James, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Tony Parker, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Tim Duncan 

Chris Tomasson: LeBron gets a 2014 Kia Sorrento donated to his school charity in Akron. Twitter @christomasson

Miami Heat, LeBron James 

Jeff Zillgitt: Mike Miller in video tribute to LeBron James: "Between me and you, we now have four MVPs.” Twitter @JeffZillgitt

Miami Heat, LeBron James 

Ethan J. Skolnick: LeBron James will receive his MVP trophy on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Twitter @EthanJSkolnick

Miami Heat, LeBron James 

Chris Tomasson: Dwyane Wade on LeBron breaking Kareem record 6 MVPs 'I think he can. He's got 4. He's got a long way to play.' Twitter @christomasson

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade 

Chris Tomasson: Shane Battier believes LeBron could break Kareem's record of 6 MVPs: “If he stays healthy. If he stay’s healthy, this won’t be his last one" Twitter @christomasson

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Shane Battier 

Miami Heat star LeBron James is named Most Valuable Player for the fourth time, league sources confirmed Friday. James has been voted MVP for the second straight season and for the fourth time in the past five years. He'll join Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain with at least four MVP awards. ESPN.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell 

The Heat are scheduling an awards presentation Sunday, and James will also be presented the MVP trophy by NBA commissioner David Stern at AmericanAirlines Arena at the start of their second-round series next week in Miami. ESPN.com

Miami Heat, LeBron James, David Stern 

Ethan J. Skolnick: LeBron says the next target for improvement is his free throw shooting: "I want to be in the 80s." Twitter @EthanJSkolnick

Miami Heat, LeBron James 

It has taken 10 years but LeBron James has agreed to donate $1 million to renovate the gymnasium at his high school alma mater, Akron's St. Vincent-St. Mary. School president Tom Carone said work is expected to begin soon on the renovation that will include: • Naming the new gymnasium "The LeBron James Arena." • A regulation 94-foot floor. The floor in place is only 84 feet long. • New bleachers that will add an additional 50 seats to the estimated 1,500 currently in place. • Two new scoreboards at each end of the gymnasium. • A new heating and cooling system. • Six new retractable baskets. • New lighting. The Plain Dealer

Miami Heat, LeBron James 

The antiquated gymnasium at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School has become somewhat of a shrine for LeBron James fans. Four college-bound young men stopped by two summers ago on an out-of-town pilgrimage and others wander in occasionally. But three-time NBA MVP James has decided it is time for athletes at his alma mater to play in a state-of-the-art facility. Miami Heat star James has donated $1 million for renovation of the St. V-M gymnasium. Akron Beacon Journal

Miami Heat, LeBron James 

Ira Winderman: For those asking, based on scheduling of awards and games, figure on LeBron to be named Most Valuable Player on Sunday. Twitter @IraHeatBeat

Miami Heat, LeBron James 

Will LeBron James be the unanimous MVP? Or might there be a Fred Hickman repeat? There never has been a unanimous NBA MVP selection in the 56 years the award has been handed out. The closest anyone has come was when Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal received 120 out of 121 possible first-place votes from a media panel in 2000. The lone dissenter was Hickman, who was then a CNN sports anchor and went with Philadelphia guard Allen Iverson. “It was crazy,’’ Hickman remembers about the fallout. “I got death threats.’’ FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, LeBron James 

When Heat forward Shane Battier was asked shortly before votes were due if he believes James will be a unanimous MVP, he figured somebody in Oklahoma City might make that not possible by selecting Thunder forward Kevin Durant. Each NBA team has three MVP votes that go to its writers and broadcasters, with the other votes coming from national media. FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, LeBron James 

Well, that’s what happened. Sources told FOX Sports Florida all three MVP first-place votes from Oklahoma City went to James. So if James isn’t a unanimous pick, a dissenting vote would have to come from somewhere else. FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, LeBron James 

Shane Battier had stitches to remove and, apparently, too much free time with his razor. The result is, well . . . "I don't know what you call this," the Miami Heat forward said after Tuesday's practice at AmericanAirlines Arena. Oh, they called Battier's Fu Manchu plenty of things. "Hulk Hogan," teammate LeBron James chimed in. "All the Hulk-a-maniacs are going to be coming after him." "That," teammate Chris Bosh said, "is what happens when you've got a layoff, when you aren't playing. Dudes get bored." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Shane Battier 

With the Heat in a holding pattern until the second round, questions about Collins and his first-person story for SI.com dominated the post-practice media availability at AmericanAirlines Arena. Collins, 34, is the first openly gay male athlete in a major American professional sport to reveal his sexuality while still an active player. “I think it’s very noble on his part,” LeBron James said. “I think it’s a strong thing to do, and I think as NBA players, we all offer him our support.” Miami Herald

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Jason Collins 

Ethan J. Skolnick: LeBron on Jason Collins: "I think it's a strong thing to do. I think it's very cool." Twitter @EthanJSkolnick

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Jason Collins