Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James earned 2016 Sportsperson of the Year honors from Sports Illustrated after leading Cleveland to its first professional sports championship in 52 years last season. James, 31, helped the Cavaliers erase a 3-1 deficit in a best-of-seven NBA Finals series with the Golden State Warriors, preserving the comeback victory with his iconic block of Warriors forward Andre Iguodala in Game 7.