National Basketball Association award This article is about the regular season award. For other MVP awards given by the NBA, see NBA Most Valuable Player (disambiguation).
National Basketball Associationawards and honors
Team awards
Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy
Bob Cousy Trophy
Maurice Podoloff Trophy
Wayne Embry Trophy
Willis Reed Trophy
Chuck Cooper Trophy
Walter A. Brown Trophy (defunct)
Oscar Robertson Trophy
Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton Trophy
Earl Lloyd Trophy
Sam Jones Trophy
NBA Cup
Individual awards
All-Star Game MVP
Clutch Player of the Year
Coach of the Year
Comeback Player of the Year (defunct)
Community Assist Award
Defensive Player of the Year
Sixth Man of the Year
Finals MVP
Hustle Award
J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award
IBM Award (defunct)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion
Most Improved Player
Most Valuable Player
Rookie of the Year
Executive of the Year
Conference finals MVP
Sportsmanship Award
Twyman–Stokes Teammate of the Year
Lifetime Achievement Award
Honors
All-NBA Team
All-Rookie Team
All-Defensive Team
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NBA Most Valuable Player
Bob McAdoo and his 1974–75 NBA Most Valuable Player trophy
Sport
Basketball
League
National Basketball Association
Awarded for
Best performing player in regular season of the National Basketball Association
History
First award
1955–56
Most wins
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6)
Most recent
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder (2025)
The NBA Most Valuable Player (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 after the five-time MVP.[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 2024–25 season, the current holder of the award is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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] Eight players who won MVP (combining for twelve 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, Nikola Jokić of Serbia, Joel Embiid of Cameroon, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Canada.[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]
As part of efforts to reduce load management for star players in the league, 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.Michael Jordan won the NBA MVP five times.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
†
Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[h]
†
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*[i]
Center
United States
Milwaukee Bucks
1971–72
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*[i] (2)
Center
United States
Milwaukee Bucks (2)
1972–73
Dave Cowens*
Center
United States
Boston Celtics (7)
1973–74
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*[i] (3)
Center
United States
Milwaukee Bucks (3)
1974–75
Bob McAdoo*
Center
United States
Buffalo Braves
1975–76
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*[i] (4)
Center
United States
Los Angeles Lakers
1976–77
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*[i] (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*[i] (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[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)[j]
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†[k]
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)
2024–25 †
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander^
Point guard
Canada
Oklahoma City Thunder (3)
Multiple-time winners
Awards
Player
Team(s)
Years
6
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Milwaukee Bucks (3) / Los Angeles Lakers (3)
1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980
5
Michael Jordan
Chicago Bulls
1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998
Bill Russell
Boston Celtics
1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965
4
Wilt Chamberlain
Philadelphia Warriors (1) / Philadelphia 76ers (3)
Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award
NBA Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award
NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant Most Valuable Player Award
NBA G League Most Valuable Player Award
NBL (United States) Most Valuable Player Award
NBA records
Notes
^The official title of the position was President until 1967 when it was renamed to Commissioner.[3]
^ abHakeem 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]
^ abcAlthough Duncan was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands and is a United States citizen,[11] the NBA considers him an international player.[12]
^ abcSteve Nash, who was born in South Africa, was raised in Canada.[13]
^ abJoel Embiid was born in Cameroon, but became a naturalized United States citizen in 2022.[14]
^Allen Iverson received the only other first-place vote in 2000, while Carmelo Anthony received the only other first-place vote in 2013.[8]
^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.
^A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for three calendar years.
^ abcdefBefore the 1971–72 season, Lew Alcindor changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.[20]
^Malone, at 35 years and 284 days old at the end of the regular season, is the oldest MVP in NBA history.[21]
^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
^"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.
^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.
^Monroe, Mike. "The Commissioners". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2008.
^"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.
^"LeBron receives 116 first-place votes". ESPN.com. May 2, 2010. Archived from the original on June 24, 2013. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
^"Kareem Abdul-Jabbar". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on July 31, 2008. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
^ ab"Most Valuable Player". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on May 28, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
^ abcWallace, Michael (May 5, 2013). "LeBron James wins 4th MVP award". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2013.
^"Wes Unseld". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
^"Hakeem Olajuwon Bio: 1992–93". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved June 15, 2008.
^"Virgin Islands". CIA World Factbook. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2008.
^ ab"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.
^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.
^"76ers star Joel Embiid now U.S. citizen". NBA.com. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
^"Who is the leading MVP candidate?". ESPN.com. March 6, 2015. Archived from the original on March 6, 2015.
^Hubbard, Jan (April 22, 1990). "NBA NOTES : Charles Barkley Running a Slick Campaign for MVP". Newsday. Archived from the original on March 16, 2015.
^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.
^"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.
^"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.
^"Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on July 31, 2008. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
^"Karl Malone 1998–99 game log". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
^"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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NBA Most Valuable Player
1956: Pettit
1957: Cousy
1958: Russell
1959: Pettit
1960: Chamberlain
1961: Russell
1962: Russell
1963: Russell
1964: Robertson
1965: Russell
1966: Chamberlain
1967: Chamberlain
1968: Chamberlain
1969: Unseld
1970: Reed
1971: Alcindor
1972: Abdul-Jabbar
1973: Cowens
1974: Abdul-Jabbar
1975: McAdoo
1976: Abdul-Jabbar
1977: Abdul-Jabbar
1978: Walton
1979: M. Malone
1980: Abdul-Jabbar
1981: Erving
1982: M. Malone
1983: M. Malone
1984: Bird
1985: Bird
1986: Bird
1987: Johnson
1988: Jordan
1989: Johnson
1990: Johnson
1991: Jordan
1992: Jordan
1993: Barkley
1994: Olajuwon
1995: Robinson
1996: Jordan
1997: K. Malone
1998: Jordan
1999: K. Malone
2000: O'Neal
2001: Iverson
2002: Duncan
2003: Duncan
2004: Garnett
2005: Nash
2006: Nash
2007: Nowitzki
2008: Bryant
2009: James
2010: James
2011: Rose
2012: James
2013: James
2014: Durant
2015: Curry
2016: Curry
2017: Westbrook
2018: Harden
2019: Antetokounmpo
2020: Antetokounmpo
2021: Jokić
2022: Jokić
2023: Embiid
2024: Jokić
2025: Gilgeous-Alexander
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National Basketball Association
EasternConference
Atlantic
Boston Celtics Brooklyn Nets New York Knicks Philadelphia 76ers Toronto Raptors
Central
Chicago Bulls Cleveland Cavaliers Detroit Pistons Indiana Pacers Milwaukee Bucks
Southeast
Atlanta Hawks Charlotte Hornets Miami Heat Orlando Magic Washington Wizards
WesternConference
Northwest
Denver Nuggets Minnesota Timberwolves Oklahoma City Thunder Portland Trail Blazers Utah Jazz
Pacific
Golden State Warriors Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles Lakers Phoenix Suns Sacramento Kings
Southwest
Dallas Mavericks Houston Rockets Memphis Grizzlies New Orleans Pelicans San Antonio Spurs
Annual events
Draft eligibility Summer League Christmas Martin Luther King Jr. Day All-Star weekend game Global Games Cup tournament Play-in Playoffs list Finals champions
History
Predecessors BAA NBL ABA merger dispersal draft Walter A. Brown Trophy Criticisms and controversies Malice at the Palace Donaghy betting scandal 2025 gambling prosecution Antitrust cases HaywoodRobertson Lockouts Former divisions Eastern Midwest Western Teams defunct expansion relocated timeline Seasons 2019–20 suspension and bubble Records regular season postseason All-Star win–loss
People
Players current rosters Eastern Western foreign players race and ethnicity first overall draft picks highest paid banned or suspended NBPA Head coaches current player-coaches champions foreign female NBCA Owners Referees NBRA Commissioner Broadcasters
Awardsand honors
Larry O'Brien Trophy Maurice Podoloff Trophy All-NBA Team MVP Finals MVP All-Star MVP Hall of Fame Members Anniversary teams Retired numbers
Others
Arenas NBA ABA Business collective bargaining agreement jersey sponsors Motorola lawsuit salary cap NBA Store team valuations Culture cheerleading mascots dress code superteams sleep Pride Night G League Media TV NBA TV NBA Academy Rivalries WNBA
Bob McAdoo and his 1974–75 NBA Most Valuable Player trophy
United States 
United States 
United States 
Nigeria[b] 
Canada[d] 
Germany 
Greece 
Serbia 
Cameroon[e] 
Sports portal
