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NBA Most Valuable Player Award

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National Basketball Association awards and honors
Team awards
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 Jokic, Denver Nuggets (2024)

The NBA 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. Since the 2022–23 season, winners receive the Michael Jordan Trophy, named for the five-time MVP often considered to be the greatest player in NBA history.[1][2]

Prior to 2021, the winner received the Maurice Podoloff Trophy, which was named in honor of the first commissioner (then president)[a] of the NBA, who served from 1946 until 1963. With the switch to the Michael Jordan Trophy, his name was moved to a new Maurice Podoloff Trophy given to the team with the best regular season record.[4] 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.

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.[5] As of the 2023–24 season, the current holder of the award is Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets.

Every player who has won this award and deemed eligible for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has been inducted. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the award a record six times.[6] He is also the only player to win the award despite his team not making the playoffs in the 1975–76 season. Both Bill Russell and Michael Jordan won the award five times,[7] 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.[8] Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Nikola Jokić each won the award three times, while Bob Pettit, Karl Malone, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo won it twice.[7] Russell, Chamberlain, and Bird are the only players to win the award in three consecutive years. Only two rookies have won the award: Chamberlain (1959–60) and Wes Unseld (1968–69).[9] Seven players who won MVP (combining for eleven total awards) are considered "international players" by the NBA: Hakeem Olajuwon of Nigeria,[b] Duncan of the U.S. Virgin Islands,[c] Nash of Canada,[d] Dirk Nowitzki of Germany, Antetokounmpo of Greece, Jokić of Serbia, and Embiid of Cameroon.[e][12]

Stephen Curry (2015–16) is the only player to have won the award unanimously. Shaquille O'Neal (1999–2000) and LeBron James (2012–13) are the only two players to have fallen one vote shy of a unanimous selection, both receiving 120 of 121 votes.[f][8] 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).[g][15][16]

Effective with the 2023–24 season, when a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the league and its players' union took effect, players must appear in at least 65 games to be eligible for most regular-season awards and honors, including MVP. To receive credit for a game for purposes of award eligibility, a player must have been credited with at least 20 minutes played. However, two "near misses", in which the player appeared for 15 to 19 minutes, can be included in the 65-game count. Protections also exist for players who suffer season-ending injuries, who are eligible with 62 credited games, and those affected by what the CBA calls "bad faith circumstances".[17][18]

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.
Hakeem Olajuwon is one of three players to win the NBA MVP and the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in the same season.
Derrick Rose became the youngest player to ever win the award at age 22.
LeBron James is a four-time NBA MVP.
Stephen Curry won back-to-back MVP awards in 2014–15 and 2015–16. He is the first unanimous MVP selection in league history.[19]
Giannis Antetokounmpo won back-to-back MVP awards in 2018–19 and 2019–20.
Nikola Jokić won three MVP awards in 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2023–24. 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 (#) Denotes the number of times the player had been named MVP at that time
Team (#) 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*[h] Center  United States Milwaukee Bucks
1971–72 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*[h] (2) Center  United States Milwaukee Bucks (2)
1972–73 Dave Cowens* Center  United States Boston Celtics (7)
1973–74 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*[h] (3) Center  United States Milwaukee Bucks (3)
1974–75 Bob McAdoo* Center  United States Buffalo Braves
1975–76 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*[h] (4) Center  United States Los Angeles Lakers
1976–77 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*[h] (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*[h] (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  United States[b] 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)[i] 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[c] San Antonio Spurs (2)
2002–03 † Tim Duncan* (2) Power forward  United States[c] San Antonio Spurs (3)
2003–04 Kevin Garnett* Power forward  United States Minnesota Timberwolves
2004–05 Steve Nash* Point guard  Canada[d] Phoenix Suns (2)
2005–06 Steve Nash* (2) Point guard  Canada[d] 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^[j] 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)
2022–23 Joel Embiid^ Center  Cameroon[e] Philadelphia 76ers (7)
2023–24 Nikola Jokić^ (3) Center  Serbia Denver Nuggets (3)

Multiple-time winners

Awards Player Team(s) Years
6 United States Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Milwaukee Bucks (3) / Los Angeles Lakers (3) 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980
5 United States Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998
United States Bill Russell Boston Celtics 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965
4 United States Wilt Chamberlain Philadelphia Warriors (1) / Philadelphia 76ers (3) 1960, 1966, 1967, 1968
United States LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers (2) / Miami Heat (2) 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013
3 United States Larry Bird Boston Celtics 1984, 1985, 1986
United States Magic Johnson Los Angeles Lakers 1987, 1989, 1990
Serbia Nikola Jokić Denver Nuggets 2021, 2022, 2024
United States Moses Malone Houston Rockets (2) / Philadelphia 76ers (1) 1979, 1982, 1983
2 Greece Giannis Antetokounmpo Milwaukee Bucks 2019, 2020
United States Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors 2015, 2016
United States Tim Duncan San Antonio Spurs 2002, 2003
United States Karl Malone Utah Jazz 1997, 1999
Canada Steve Nash Phoenix Suns 2005, 2006
United States Bob Pettit St. Louis Hawks 1956, 1959

Teams

Awards Teams Years
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
7 Philadelphia 76ers 1966, 1967, 1968, 1981, 1983, 2001, 2023
6 Chicago Bulls 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2011
5 Milwaukee Bucks 1971, 1972, 1974, 2019, 2020
4 Houston Rockets 1979, 1982, 1994, 2018
3 Denver Nuggets 2021, 2022, 2024
Philadelphia / Golden State Warriors 1960, 2015, 2016
Phoenix Suns 1993, 2005, 2006
San Antonio Spurs 1995, 2002, 2003
2 St. Louis Hawks (now Atlanta Hawks) 1956, 1959
Cleveland Cavaliers 2009, 2010
Miami Heat 2012, 2013
Oklahoma City Thunder 2014, 2017
Utah Jazz 1997, 1999
1 Baltimore Bullets (now Washington Wizards) 1969
Buffalo Braves (now Los Angeles Clippers) 1975
Cincinnati Royals (now Sacramento Kings) 1964
Dallas Mavericks 2007
Minnesota Timberwolves 2004
New York Knicks 1970
Portland Trail Blazers 1978
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 renamed to Commissioner.[3]
  2. ^ a b 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.[10]
  3. ^ a b c Although Duncan was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands and is a United States citizen,[11] the NBA considers him an international player.[12]
  4. ^ a b c Steve Nash, who was born in South Africa, was raised in Canada.[13]
  5. ^ a b Joel Embiid was born in Cameroon, but became a naturalized United States citizen in 2022.[14]
  6. ^ Allen Iverson received the only other first-place vote in 2000, while Carmelo Anthony received the only other first-place vote in 2013.[8]
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Before the 1971–72 season, Lew Alcindor changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.[20]
  9. ^ Malone, at 35 years and 284 days old at the end of the regular season, is the oldest MVP in NBA history.[21]
  10. ^ Rose, at 22 years and 191 days old at the end of the regular season, is the youngest MVP in NBA history.[22]

References

General
  • "NBA MVP – Maurice Podoloff Trophy – Marc Mellon Sculpture Studio". January 12, 2022. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. 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. ^ "NBA unveils The Michael Jordan Trophy to awarded to Kia MVP". NBA.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  2. ^ Goldsberry, Kirk (December 13, 2022). "NBA renaming MVP after Jordan in awards update". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  3. ^ Monroe, Mike. "The Commissioners". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2008.
  4. ^ "NBA unveils redesigned trophies for end-of-season awards". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  5. ^ "LeBron receives 116 first-place votes". ESPN.com. May 2, 2010. Archived from the original on June 24, 2013. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  6. ^ "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on July 31, 2008. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
  7. ^ a b "Most Valuable Player". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on May 28, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
  8. ^ a b c Wallace, Michael (May 5, 2013). "LeBron James wins 4th MVP award". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2013.
  9. ^ "Wes Unseld". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
  10. ^ "Hakeem Olajuwon Bio: 1992–93". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved June 15, 2008.
  11. ^ "Virgin Islands". CIA World Factbook. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2008.
  12. ^ a b "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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ "76ers star Joel Embiid now U.S. citizen". NBA.com. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  15. ^ "Who is the leading MVP candidate?". ESPN.com. March 6, 2015. Archived from the original on March 6, 2015.
  16. ^ Hubbard, Jan (April 22, 1990). "NBA NOTES : Charles Barkley Running a Slick Campaign for MVP". Newsday. Archived from the original on March 16, 2015.
  17. ^ Helin, Kurt (April 18, 2023). "More details emerge on new NBA CBA, including details on 65-game threshold for awards". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on June 28, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  18. ^ "Article XXIX, Section 6: Games Played Requirement for Certain League Honors" (PDF). NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement. National Basketball Players Association. July 2023. pp. 432–38. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 16, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023. The games played requirement specifically applies to the MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Most Improved Player awards, as well as the All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams.
  19. ^ "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.
  20. ^ "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on July 31, 2008. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
  21. ^ "Karl Malone 1998–99 game log". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  22. ^ "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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