How many times has LeBron James been named Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year? Three times.
James first received the honor in 2012 after leading the Miami Heat to an NBA championship, winning the NBA Finals MVP award, and helping the United States win Olympic gold. His second selection came in 2016, when he led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the franchise’s first NBA title.
James won the award for a third time in 2020. Sports Illustrated recognized his continued basketball excellence and his public work addressing voter suppression and civic participation. This made him one of only a small number of individuals to receive the honor multiple times.
The three winning years were 2012, 2016, and 2020. Therefore, the stored answer of two is outdated or incomplete.