Miami Heat superstar Lebron James has added another honor in his name after being chosen by American news agency AP as the 2013 Athlete of the Year.

The 10-year NBA veteran edged Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning and NASCAR star Jimmie Johnson to become just the third basketball player to win such award. The other two basketball players who have won the recognition are Michael Jordan and Larry Bird. With this award, Lebron is now put on the same category as Joe Louis, Jesse Owens, Muhammad Ali, Carl Lewis, Joe Montana, Tiger Woods and Michael Phelps.

With the way the Miami Heat's season is going it seems that Lebron is off to another spectacular season. He is posting great numbers on points, rebounds and assists, he's making highlight players with the highest replay value. However, for him, basketball is not everything. Despite being tagged as the current genetation's most unstoppable basketball player, he thinks he is off to something that is bigger than the game.

Speaking to AP after receiving the award, the 28-year old 2X NBA Champion said that he is "chasing something and it's bigger than me as a basketball player."

"I believe my calling is much higher than being a basketball player. I can inspire people. Youth is huge to me. If I can get kids to look at me as a role model, as a leader, a superhero ... those things mean so much, and that's what I think I was built for. I was put here for this lovely game of basketball, but I don't think this is the biggest role that I'm going to have."

On the same interview, he also said that he never stop working to improve his game and his life as a whole.

"I don't think I've changed much this year," James said. "I've just improved and continued to improve on being more than just as a basketball player. I've matured as a leader, as a father, as a husband, as a friend."

In his 10 seasons in the NBA, Lebron James has been regarded as the most athletic player the game has ever seen. Proof to that are his two Final MVPs, 4 season MVPs, and nine All-Star appearances.