Miami Heat's LeBron James was one vote away from unanimously winning the 2013 NBA Most Valuable Player award.

The 28-year old won his fourth MVP award in five years on Sunday. He became the youngest player in NBA history to win four MVP awards, earning 120 out of 121 votes to capture this season's award, according to ESPN. 

It was only the second time in NBA history that a player fell just one vote short of unanimously winning the MVP award — Shaquille O'Neal was one vote short in the 1999-2000 season.

Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant came in second place, and Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks received one first-place vote and came in third.

"It's probably a writer out of New York that didn't give me the vote," James said on Sunday. "I know the history between the Heat and the Knicks. So I get it."

James' four trophies put him in the elite company of Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to win at least four MVP awards.

James' second-straight MVP trophy came after turning in another incredible season.  He averaged 26.8 points, 7.3 assists and 8.0 rebounds per game this season. 

The nine-year pro also had his most efficient season ever, shooting a career-high 56.5 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from 3-point range.  His play helped the Heat win 27 straight games and clinch the Eastern Conference's first-seed playoff spot with a 66-16 record.

"Over these 46 years, I've had an opportunity to see some great players - and all the ones I've observed, watched and have seen, they've always gotten better," Heat president Pat Riley said at Sunday's ceremony. "In my humble opinion, I believe the man right here (James) is the best of them all."

While winning his fourth MVP award was special, James revealed it was the Defensive Player of the Year award that he really wanted.

"I tried harder to win defensive player of the year than I did MVP," James said. "That's my goal.  Coach (Erik Spoelstra) had me guarding every position. We'll try again next year."

Miami is coming off a first-round sweep of the Milwaukee Bucks and face an injury-depleted Chicago Bulls team in the Eastern Conference semifinals. 

Game 1 is on Monday at 7 p.m. ET on TNT.