LeBron James gets no NBA MVP votes for first time in his career

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid was named the 2022-23 NBA MVP on Tuesday night following two straight runner-up finishes. The Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic, who captured the last two awards, and the Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo, who won the two before Jokic, finished second and third, respectively.

There was little surprise there, but one name that was absent from the ballot entirely might surprise the casual NBA fan: LeBron James was nowhere to be found. Per ESPN Stats & Info, this is the first time James has failed to receive a single MVP vote since he came into the league in 2003 as the first overall pick.

James certainly put up his usual stellar numbers: 28.9 points per game, 8.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists. He even broke the NBA's all-time scoring record this season. But he was limited to just 55 games, which tied for his fewest played in an 82-game season. The Los Angeles Lakers went 43-39 and earned the No. 7 playoff seed.

The 38-year-old James is a four-time MVP (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013) and has four more runner-up finishes, three of them coming since his last MVP a decade ago. The fact he didn't fall off the MVP ballot until his 20th season is just another reminder of his legendary talent and near-unprecedented longevity.