Last Updated on July 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
The NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award is the league’s highest individual regular-season honor. First presented in the 1955–56 season, the award recognizes the player who delivers the most outstanding performance while having the greatest overall impact on their team’s success.
Throughout NBA history, legends such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Nikola Jokić, and Stephen Curry have earned the prestigious Maurice Podoloff Trophy.
What Is the NBA MVP Award?
The NBA Most Valuable Player Award is presented annually to the player judged to be the most valuable during the regular season.
A panel of sportswriters and broadcasters votes based on factors including:
- Individual statistics
- Team success
- Overall impact
- Efficiency
- Leadership
- Durability
The award is based solely on regular-season performance and does not include playoff results.
NBA MVP Winners by Season
| Season | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1955–56 | Bob Pettit | St. Louis Hawks |
| 1956–57 | Bob Cousy | Boston Celtics |
| 1957–58 | Bill Russell | Boston Celtics |
| 1958–59 | Bob Pettit | St. Louis Hawks |
| 1959–60 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia Warriors |
| 1960–61 | Bill Russell | Boston Celtics |
| 1961–62 | Bill Russell | Boston Celtics |
| 1962–63 | Bill Russell | Boston Celtics |
| 1963–64 | Oscar Robertson | Cincinnati Royals |
| 1964–65 | Bill Russell | Boston Celtics |
| 1965–66 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1966–67 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1967–68 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1968–69 | Wes Unseld | Baltimore Bullets |
| 1969–70 | Willis Reed | New York Knicks |
| 1970–71 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1971–72 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1972–73 | Dave Cowens | Boston Celtics |
| 1973–74 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1974–75 | Bob McAdoo | Buffalo Braves |
| 1975–76 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1976–77 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1977–78 | Bill Walton | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1978–79 | Moses Malone | Houston Rockets |
| 1979–80 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1980–81 | Julius Erving | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1981–82 | Moses Malone | Houston Rockets |
| 1982–83 | Moses Malone | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1983–84 | Larry Bird | Boston Celtics |
| 1984–85 | Larry Bird | Boston Celtics |
| 1985–86 | Larry Bird | Boston Celtics |
| 1986–87 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1987–88 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1988–89 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1989–90 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1990–91 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1991–92 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1992–93 | Charles Barkley | Phoenix Suns |
| 1993–94 | Hakeem Olajuwon | Houston Rockets |
| 1994–95 | David Robinson | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1995–96 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1996–97 | Karl Malone | Utah Jazz |
| 1997–98 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1998–99 | Karl Malone | Utah Jazz |
| 1999–00 | Shaquille O’Neal | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2000–01 | Allen Iverson | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2001–02 | Tim Duncan | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2002–03 | Tim Duncan | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2003–04 | Kevin Garnett | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 2004–05 | Steve Nash | Phoenix Suns |
| 2005–06 | Steve Nash | Phoenix Suns |
| 2006–07 | Dirk Nowitzki | Dallas Mavericks |
| 2007–08 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2008–09 | LeBron James | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2009–10 | LeBron James | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2010–11 | Derrick Rose | Chicago Bulls |
| 2011–12 | LeBron James | Miami Heat |
| 2012–13 | LeBron James | Miami Heat |
| 2013–14 | Kevin Durant | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 2014–15 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors |
| 2015–16 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors |
| 2016–17 | Russell Westbrook | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 2017–18 | James Harden | Houston Rockets |
| 2018–19 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2019–20 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2020–21 | Nikola Jokić | Denver Nuggets |
| 2021–22 | Nikola Jokić | Denver Nuggets |
| 2022–23 | Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2023–24 | Nikola Jokić | Denver Nuggets |
| 2024–25 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma City Thunder |
Players with the Most NBA MVP Awards
Several NBA legends have won the MVP award multiple times:
| Player | MVP Awards |
|---|---|
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 6 |
| Michael Jordan | 5 |
| Bill Russell | 5 |
| Wilt Chamberlain | 4 |
| LeBron James | 4 |
| Nikola Jokić | 3 |
| Larry Bird | 3 |
| Magic Johnson | 3 |
| Moses Malone | 3 |
| Tim Duncan | 2 |
| Steve Nash | 2 |
| Stephen Curry | 2 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | 2 |
| Karl Malone | 2 |
| Bob Pettit | 2 |
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the NBA record with six Most Valuable Player awards.
MVP Winners Who Also Won Finals MVP
Many regular-season MVPs also captured NBA Finals MVP honors, including:
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Magic Johnson
- Larry Bird
- Michael Jordan
- Hakeem Olajuwon
- Shaquille O’Neal
- Tim Duncan
- Kobe Bryant
- LeBron James
- Kevin Durant
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Nikola Jokić
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Winning both awards in the same season is considered one of the greatest accomplishments in basketball.
Interesting Facts
- The award has been presented every season since 1955–56.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the record with six MVP awards.
- Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain dominated the 1960s, combining for nine MVP awards.
- Larry Bird won three consecutive MVP awards from 1984 to 1986.
- Stephen Curry became the first unanimous MVP in NBA history in 2015–16.
- Wes Unseld remains the only player to win both Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season (1968–69).
Why the Award Matters
The NBA MVP Award represents the pinnacle of regular-season individual achievement. It honors players who combine elite production with leadership and team success while consistently performing at the highest level.
MVP awards are among the most influential factors in evaluating player legacies, Hall of Fame credentials, and debates over the greatest players in NBA history.
Related NBA Lists
- NBA Finals MVP Winners
- NBA Defensive Player of the Year Winners
- NBA Rookie of the Year Winners
- NBA Most Improved Player Winners
- NBA Sixth Man of the Year Winners
- NBA All-NBA First Team Players
- NBA Hall of Fame Players
- NBA Champions (Players)