Report: Heat's James wins 3rd NBA MVP award

May 12, 2012 - 2:57 AM Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Miami Heat forward LeBron James will reportedly become the eighth player in NBA history to win at least three Most Valuable Player awards.

James is expected to be named MVP for the third time in the last four seasons on Saturday, the Miami Herald reported Friday night, citing an unnamed source.

The Heat sent out a press release late Friday saying it would join the NBA in making a "major announcement" at AmericanAirlines Arena on Saturday afternoon.

James would join Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6), Michael Jordan and Bill Russell (5), Wilt Chamberlain (4) and Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Moses Malone (3) on the list of players with at least three MVPs.

In his second season with the Heat, James averaged 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists in 62 games. He captured his first two MVPs in 2009 and '10 for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

James finished third in scoring behind the Thunder's Kevin Durant and the Lakers' Kobe Bryant.

The Heat open their Eastern Conference semifinal series against Indiana at home on Sunday.