LeBron James has officially been named the NBA's

MVP for a third time in four years. That makes him just the eighth

player in league history with three or more MVP awards.

James says he'd give up all three for an NBA championship ring.

James averaged 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists and

earned 85 out of a possible 121 first-place votes. League scoring

champion Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder was named first

on 24 ballots, finishing second to James for a second time in his

five-year career.

Last season's MVP, Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, appeared

in only 39 of 66 regular-season games this season because of a

variety of injuries and finished 10th.

Derrick Rose had surgery Saturday to repair a

torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

The Bulls say more information on his prognosis will be provided

next week. There's a good chance Rose will miss the early portion

of next season.

Last season's league MVP was injured late in the Bulls'

playoff-opening victory over Philadelphia. But without their

leading scorer in the lineup, the top-seed in the East lost to the

underdog 76ers in six games.