NBA Most Valuable Player Award

The National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given since the 1955–56 season to the best performing player of the regular season. The winner receives the Maurice Podoloff Trophy, which is named in honor of the first commissioner (then president)[lower-alpha 1] of the NBA, who served from 1946 until 1963. Until the 1979–80 season, the MVP was selected by a vote of NBA players. Since the 1980–81 season, the award is decided by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada.

National Basketball Association awards and honors
Championship
Individual awards
Honors
NBA Most Valuable Player Award
SportBasketball
LeagueNational Basketball Association
Awarded forBest performing player in regular season of the National Basketball Association
History
First award1955–56
Most winsKareem Abdul-Jabbar (6)
Most recentNikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets (2022)

Each member of the voting panel casts a vote for first to fifth place selections. Each first-place vote is worth 10 points; each second-place vote is worth seven; each third-place vote is worth five, fourth-place is worth three and fifth-place is worth one. Starting from 2010, one ballot was cast by fans through online voting. The player with the highest point total wins the award.[2] As of the 2021–22 season, the current holder of the award is Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets. Jokić is the lowest draft pick to win the award, being selected 41st by Denver in the 2014 NBA draft.

Every player who has won this award and has been eligible for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has been inducted. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the award a record six times.[3] He is also the only player to win the award despite his team not making the playoffs back in the 1975–76 season. Both Bill Russell and Michael Jordan won the award five times,[4] while Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James won the award four times. Russell and James are the only players to have won the award four times in five seasons.[5] Moses Malone, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson each won the award three times, while Bob Pettit, Karl Malone, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokić have each won it twice.[4] Russell, Chamberlain, and Bird are the only players to win the award in three consecutive years. Only two rookies have won the award: Chamberlain in the 1959–60 season and Wes Unseld in the 1968–69 season.[6] Hakeem Olajuwon of Nigeria,[lower-alpha 2] Duncan of the U.S. Virgin Islands,[lower-alpha 3] Nash of Canada,[lower-alpha 4] Dirk Nowitzki of Germany, Antetokounmpo of Greece, and Jokić of Serbia are the only MVP winners considered "international players" by the NBA.[9]

Curry in 2015–16 is the only player to have won the award unanimously. Shaquille O'Neal in 1999–2000 and LeBron James in 2012–13 are the only two players to have fallen one vote shy of a unanimous selection, both receiving 120 of 121 votes.[lower-alpha 5][5] Since the 1975–76 season, only three players have been named MVP for a season in which their team failed to win at least 50 regular season games—Moses Malone (twice, 1978–79 and 1981–82), Russell Westbrook (2016–17) and Nikola Jokić (2021–22).[lower-alpha 6][11][12]

Winners
Bill Russell (left) won the award five times in his NBA career. Wilt Chamberlain (center) won the award four times in his career.
Bob Pettit was the first player to win multiple MVP awards.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the award a record-setting six times in his career.
Larry Bird was the last player to win the award in three consecutive years.
Michael Jordan won the award five times in his career.
Hakeem Olajuwon (right) is one of three players to win the NBA MVP and the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in the same season.
LeBron James is a four-time NBA MVP.
Derrick Rose became the youngest player to ever win the award at age 22.
Stephen Curry won back-to-back MVP awards and was the first ever unanimous winner in the 2015–16 season.[13]
Giannis Antetokounmpo won back to back MVP awards in 2018–19 and 2019–20. He became the first player to win League MVP and the NBA Most Improved Player award.
Nikola Jokić won back to back MVP awards in 2020–21 and 2021–22. He became one of only two players to be selected in the second round of the NBA draft to win the award.
^ Denotes player who is still active in the NBA
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Denotes player whose team won championship that year
Player (X) Denotes the number of times the player had been named MVP at that time
Team (X) Denotes the number of times a player from this team had won at that time
Season Player Position Nationality Team
1955–56 Bob Pettit* Power forward  United States St. Louis Hawks
1956–57 Bob Cousy* Point guard  United States Boston Celtics
1957–58 Bill Russell* Center  United States Boston Celtics (2)
1958–59 Bob Pettit* (2) Power forward  United States St. Louis Hawks (2)
1959–60 Wilt Chamberlain* Center  United States Philadelphia Warriors
1960–61 Bill Russell* (2) Center  United States Boston Celtics (3)
1961–62 Bill Russell* (3) Center  United States Boston Celtics (4)
1962–63 Bill Russell* (4) Center  United States Boston Celtics (5)
1963–64 Oscar Robertson* Point guard  United States Cincinnati Royals
1964–65 Bill Russell* (5) Center  United States Boston Celtics (6)
1965–66 Wilt Chamberlain* (2) Center  United States Philadelphia 76ers
1966–67 Wilt Chamberlain* (3) Center  United States Philadelphia 76ers (2)
1967–68 Wilt Chamberlain* (4) Center  United States Philadelphia 76ers (3)
1968–69 Wes Unseld* Center  United States Baltimore Bullets
1969–70 Willis Reed* Center  United States New York Knicks
1970–71 Lew Alcindor*[lower-alpha 7] Center  United States Milwaukee Bucks
1971–72 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*[lower-alpha 7] (2) Center  United States Milwaukee Bucks (2)
1972–73 Dave Cowens* Center  United States Boston Celtics (7)
1973–74 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*[lower-alpha 7] (3) Center  United States Milwaukee Bucks (3)
1974–75 Bob McAdoo* Center  United States Buffalo Braves
1975–76 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*[lower-alpha 7] (4) Center  United States Los Angeles Lakers
1976–77 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*[lower-alpha 7] (5) Center  United States Los Angeles Lakers (2)
1977–78 Bill Walton* Center  United States Portland Trail Blazers
1978–79 Moses Malone* Center  United States Houston Rockets
1979–80 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*[lower-alpha 7] (6) Center  United States Los Angeles Lakers (3)
1980–81 Julius Erving* Small forward  United States Philadelphia 76ers (4)
1981–82 Moses Malone* (2) Center  United States Houston Rockets (2)
1982–83 Moses Malone* (3) Center  United States Philadelphia 76ers (5)
1983–84 Larry Bird* Small forward  United States Boston Celtics (8)
1984–85 Larry Bird* (2) Small forward  United States Boston Celtics (9)
1985–86 Larry Bird* (3) Small forward  United States Boston Celtics (10)
1986–87 Magic Johnson* Point guard  United States Los Angeles Lakers (4)
1987–88 Michael Jordan* Shooting guard  United States Chicago Bulls
1988–89 Magic Johnson* (2) Point guard  United States Los Angeles Lakers (5)
1989–90 Magic Johnson* (3) Point guard  United States Los Angeles Lakers (6)
1990–91 Michael Jordan* (2) Shooting guard  United States Chicago Bulls (2)
1991–92 Michael Jordan* (3) Shooting guard  United States Chicago Bulls (3)
1992–93 Charles Barkley* Power forward  United States Phoenix Suns
1993–94 Hakeem Olajuwon* Center  Nigeria[lower-alpha 2] Houston Rockets (3)
1994–95 David Robinson* Center  United States San Antonio Spurs
1995–96 Michael Jordan* (4) Shooting guard  United States Chicago Bulls (4)
1996–97 Karl Malone* Power forward  United States Utah Jazz
1997–98 Michael Jordan* (5) Shooting guard  United States Chicago Bulls (5)
1998–99 Karl Malone* (2)[lower-alpha 8] Power forward  United States Utah Jazz (2)
1999–00 Shaquille O'Neal* Center  United States Los Angeles Lakers (7)
2000–01 Allen Iverson* Shooting guard  United States Philadelphia 76ers (6)
2001–02 Tim Duncan* Power forward  United States[lower-alpha 3] San Antonio Spurs (2)
2002–03 Tim Duncan* (2) Power forward  United States[lower-alpha 3] San Antonio Spurs (3)
2003–04 Kevin Garnett* Power forward  United States Minnesota Timberwolves
2004–05 Steve Nash* Point guard  Canada[lower-alpha 4] Phoenix Suns (2)
2005–06 Steve Nash* (2) Point guard  Canada[lower-alpha 4] Phoenix Suns (3)
2006–07 Dirk Nowitzki Power forward  Germany Dallas Mavericks
2007–08 Kobe Bryant* Shooting guard  United States Los Angeles Lakers (8)
2008–09 LeBron James^ Small forward  United States Cleveland Cavaliers
2009–10 LeBron James^ (2) Small forward  United States Cleveland Cavaliers (2)
2010–11 Derrick Rose^[lower-alpha 9] Point guard  United States Chicago Bulls (6)
2011–12 LeBron James^ (3) Small forward  United States Miami Heat
2012–13 LeBron James^ (4) Small forward  United States Miami Heat (2)
2013–14 Kevin Durant^ Small forward  United States Oklahoma City Thunder
2014–15 Stephen Curry^ Point guard  United States Golden State Warriors (2)
2015–16 Stephen Curry^ (2) Point guard  United States Golden State Warriors (3)
2016–17 Russell Westbrook^ Point guard  United States Oklahoma City Thunder (2)
2017–18 James Harden^ Shooting guard  United States Houston Rockets (4)
2018–19 Giannis Antetokounmpo^ Power forward  Greece Milwaukee Bucks (4)
2019–20 Giannis Antetokounmpo^ (2) Power forward  Greece Milwaukee Bucks (5)
2020–21 Nikola Jokić^ Center  Serbia Denver Nuggets
2021–22 Nikola Jokić^ (2) Center  Serbia Denver Nuggets (2)

Multi-time winners
AwardsPlayerTeam(s)Years
6Kareem Abdul-JabbarMilwaukee Bucks (3) / Los Angeles Lakers (3)1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980
5Bill RussellBoston Celtics1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965
Michael JordanChicago Bulls1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998
4Wilt ChamberlainPhiladelphia Warriors (1) / Philadelphia 76ers (3)1960, 1966, 1967, 1968
LeBron JamesCleveland Cavaliers (2) / Miami Heat (2)2009, 2010, 2012, 2013
3Moses MaloneHouston Rockets (2) / Philadelphia 76ers (1)1979, 1982, 1983
Larry BirdBoston Celtics1984, 1985, 1986
Magic JohnsonLos Angeles Lakers1987, 1989, 1990
2Bob PettitSt. Louis Hawks1956, 1959
Karl MaloneUtah Jazz1997, 1999
Tim DuncanSan Antonio Spurs2002, 2003
Steve NashPhoenix Suns2005, 2006
Stephen CurryGolden State Warriors2015, 2016
Giannis AntetokounmpoMilwaukee Bucks2019, 2020
Nikola JokićDenver Nuggets2021, 2022

Teams
AwardsTeamsYears
10 Boston Celtics 1957, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1973, 1984, 1985, 1986
8 Los Angeles Lakers 1976, 1977, 1980, 1987, 1989, 1990, 2000, 2008
6 Philadelphia 76ers 1966, 1967, 1968, 1981, 1983, 2001
Chicago Bulls 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2011
5 Milwaukee Bucks 1971, 1972, 1974, 2019, 2020
4 Houston Rockets 1979, 1982, 1994, 2018
3 San Antonio Spurs 1995, 2002, 2003
Phoenix Suns 1993, 2005, 2006
Philadelphia/Golden State Warriors 1960, 2015, 2016
2 St. Louis Hawks (now Atlanta Hawks) 1956, 1959
Utah Jazz 1997, 1999
Cleveland Cavaliers 2009, 2010
Miami Heat 2012, 2013
Oklahoma City Thunder 2014, 2017
Denver Nuggets 2021, 2022
1 Cincinnati Royals (now Sacramento Kings) 1964
Baltimore Bullets (now Washington Wizards) 1969
New York Knicks 1970
Buffalo Braves (now Los Angeles Clippers) 1975
Portland Trail Blazers 1978
Minnesota Timberwolves 2004
Dallas Mavericks 2007
0 Brooklyn Nets None
Charlotte Hornets
Detroit Pistons
Indiana Pacers
Memphis Grizzlies
New Orleans Pelicans
Orlando Magic
Toronto Raptors

See also

Notes
  1. The official title of the position was President until 1967 when it was changed to Commissioner.[1]
  2. Hakeem Olajuwon was born in Nigeria, but became a naturalized United States citizen in 1993. He was the first ever international player to win the award.[7]
  3. Although Duncan was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands and is a United States citizen,[8] the NBA considers him an international player.[9]
  4. Steve Nash, who was born in South Africa, was raised in Canada.[10]
  5. Allen Iverson received the only other first-place vote in 2000, while Carmelo Anthony received the only other first-place vote in 2013.[5]
  6. Except for seasons affected by lockouts and COVID-19, when the schedule was shortened from the norm of 82 games. Karl Malone won in 1998–99 when Utah was 37–13 in 50 games, which projected to 60 wins in 82 games. James won in 2011–12 when the Miami Heat were 46–20 in 66 games, which projected to 57 wins. Nikola Jokić won in 2020–21 when Denver was 47–25 in 72 games, which projected to 54 wins in 82 games.
  7. Before the 1971–72 season, Lew Alcindor changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.[14]
  8. Malone, at 35 years and 284 days old at the end of the regular season, is the oldest MVP in NBA history.[15]
  9. Rose, at 22 years and 191 days old at the end of the regular season, is the youngest MVP in NBA history.[16]

References
General
  • "NBA MVP – Maurice Podoloff Trophy – Marc Mellon Sculpture Studio". Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  • "Most Valuable Player". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on May 28, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
  • "Most Valuable Player Award Winners". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2008.
Specific
  1. Monroe, Mike. "The Commissioners". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2008.
  2. "LeBron receives 116 first-place votes". ESPN.com. May 2, 2010. Archived from the original on June 24, 2013. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  3. "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on July 31, 2008. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
  4. "Most Valuable Player". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on May 28, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
  5. Wallace, Michael (May 5, 2013). "LeBron James wins 4th MVP award". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2013.
  6. "Wes Unseld". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
  7. "Hakeem Olajuwon Bio: 1992–93". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved June 15, 2008.
  8. "Virgin Islands". CIA World Factbook. Retrieved August 12, 2008.
  9. "NBA Players from around the world: 2005–2006 Season". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on October 29, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  10. McPeek, Jeramie. "The Canadian Kid". NBA.com (from Fastbreak Magazine of Sept./Oct. 1996). Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on May 11, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2009.
  11. "Who is the leading MVP candidate?". ESPN.com. March 6, 2015. Archived from the original on March 6, 2015.
  12. Hubbard, Jan (April 22, 1990). "NBA NOTES : Charles Barkley Running a Slick Campaign for MVP". Newsday. Archived from the original on March 16, 2015.
  13. "Stephen Curry wins MVP for second straight season". ESPN.com. May 11, 2016. Archived from the original on June 21, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  14. "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on July 31, 2008. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
  15. "Karl Malone 1998–99 game log". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  16. "Derrick Rose 2010-11 game log". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2016.

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