LeBron James Opens Up About the One NBA Award He Hasn’t Won

The Lakers superstar says it stings to have never won Defensive Player of the Year.

Apr 14, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) looks on. / Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

The list of accolades Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James—the NBA's all-time leading scorer—has not earned in his illustrious career is short. However, one in particular sticks in his craw, as James is set to reveal on a forthcoming episode of The Shop, .

"Defensive Player of the Year," James said in a clip posted to social media Tuesday morning. "I mean, that's the only award that I don't have in my house."

James has been runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year twice. In 2009 with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he finished second to Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard in a landslide. In 2013, by a much narrower margin, he finished second to Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol while with the Miami Heat.

"It don't make sense." 😤@KingJames talks about the one award he hasn't won and why it still stings in an all-new episode of #TheShop – dropping this Thursday. pic.twitter.com/Rqh4L7fQ2L

— The Shop (@TheShopUN) April 16, 2024

"It kind of stings. I've talked about this before," James said. "It's almost what (Jay-Z) said about (Beyoncé). How could she have the most Grammys, but never won Album of the Year?"

James noted that Gasol—his teammate on the Lakers in 2021—was not nominated first team All-Defense the year he won Defensive Player of the Year.