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.
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 June 2019, the current holder of the award is Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
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 and Stephen Curry have each won it twice.[4] 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, and Giannis Antetokounmpo of Greece 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 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 two 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) and Russell Westbrook (2016–17).[lower-alpha 6][11][12]
Winners
^ | 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 | St. Louis Hawks | |
1956–57 |
Bob Cousy* | Point guard | Boston Celtics | |
1957–58 | Bill Russell* | Center | Boston Celtics (2) | |
1958–59 | Bob Pettit* (2) | Power forward | St. Louis Hawks (2) | |
1959–60 | Wilt Chamberlain* | Center | Philadelphia Warriors | |
1960–61 |
Bill Russell* (2) | Center | Boston Celtics (3) | |
1961–62 |
Bill Russell* (3) | Center | Boston Celtics (4) | |
1962–63 |
Bill Russell* (4) | Center | Boston Celtics (5) | |
1963–64 | Oscar Robertson* | Point guard | Cincinnati Royals | |
1964–65 |
Bill Russell* (5) | Center | Boston Celtics (6) | |
1965–66 | Wilt Chamberlain* (2) | Center | Philadelphia 76ers | |
1966–67 |
Wilt Chamberlain* (3) | Center | Philadelphia 76ers (2) | |
1967–68 | Wilt Chamberlain* (4) | Center | Philadelphia 76ers (3) | |
1968–69 | Wes Unseld* | Center/Forward | Baltimore Bullets | |
1969–70 |
Willis Reed* | Center | New York Knicks | |
1970–71 |
Lew Alcindor*[lower-alpha 7] | Center | Milwaukee Bucks | |
1971–72 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*[lower-alpha 7] (2) | Center | Milwaukee Bucks (2) | |
1972–73 | Dave Cowens* | Center | Boston Celtics (7) | |
1973–74 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*[lower-alpha 7] (3) | Center | Milwaukee Bucks (3) | |
1974–75 | Bob McAdoo* | Power forward | Buffalo Braves | |
1975–76 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*[lower-alpha 7] (4) | Center | Los Angeles Lakers | |
1976–77 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*[lower-alpha 7] (5) | Center | Los Angeles Lakers (2) | |
1977–78 | Bill Walton* | Center | Portland Trail Blazers | |
1978–79 | Moses Malone* | Center | Houston Rockets | |
1979–80 |
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*[lower-alpha 7] (6) | Center | Los Angeles Lakers (3) | |
1980–81 | Julius Erving* | Small forward | Philadelphia 76ers (4) | |
1981–82 | Moses Malone* (2) | Center | Houston Rockets (2) | |
1982–83 |
Moses Malone* (3) | Center | Philadelphia 76ers (5) | |
1983–84 |
Larry Bird* | Small forward | Boston Celtics (8) | |
1984–85 | Larry Bird* (2) | Small forward | Boston Celtics (9) | |
1985–86 |
Larry Bird* (3) | Small forward | Boston Celtics (10) | |
1986–87 |
Magic Johnson* | Point guard | Los Angeles Lakers (4) | |
1987–88 | Michael Jordan* | Shooting guard | Chicago Bulls | |
1988–89 | Magic Johnson* (2) | Point guard | Los Angeles Lakers (5) | |
1989–90 | Magic Johnson* (3) | Point guard | Los Angeles Lakers (6) | |
1990–91 |
Michael Jordan* (2) | Shooting guard | Chicago Bulls (2) | |
1991–92 |
Michael Jordan* (3) | Shooting guard | Chicago Bulls (3) | |
1992–93 | Charles Barkley* | Power forward | Phoenix Suns | |
1993–94 |
Hakeem Olajuwon* | Center | Houston Rockets (3) | |
1994–95 | David Robinson* | Center | San Antonio Spurs | |
1995–96 |
Michael Jordan* (4) | Shooting guard | Chicago Bulls (4) | |
1996–97 | Karl Malone* | Power forward | Utah Jazz | |
1997–98 |
Michael Jordan* (5) | Shooting guard | Chicago Bulls (5) | |
1998–99 | Karl Malone* (2) [lower-alpha 8] | Power forward | Utah Jazz (2) | |
1999–00 |
Shaquille O'Neal* | Center | Los Angeles Lakers (7) | |
2000–01 | Allen Iverson* | Shooting guard | Philadelphia 76ers (6) | |
2001–02 | Tim Duncan* | Power forward | San Antonio Spurs (2) | |
2002–03 |
Tim Duncan* (2) | Power forward | San Antonio Spurs (3) | |
2003–04 | Kevin Garnett* | Power forward | Minnesota Timberwolves | |
2004–05 | Steve Nash* | Point guard | Phoenix Suns (2) | |
2005–06 | Steve Nash* (2) | Point guard | Phoenix Suns (3) | |
2006–07 | Dirk Nowitzki | Power forward | Dallas Mavericks | |
2007–08 | Kobe Bryant* | Shooting guard | Los Angeles Lakers (8) | |
2008–09 | LeBron James^ | Small forward | Cleveland Cavaliers | |
2009–10 | LeBron James^ (2) | Small forward | Cleveland Cavaliers (2) | |
2010–11 | Derrick Rose^ [lower-alpha 9] | Point guard | Chicago Bulls (6) | |
2011–12 |
LeBron James^ (3) | Small forward | Miami Heat | |
2012–13 |
LeBron James^ (4) | Small forward | Miami Heat (2) | |
2013–14 | Kevin Durant^ | Small forward | Oklahoma City Thunder | |
2014–15 |
Stephen Curry^ | Point guard | Golden State Warriors (2) | |
2015–16 | Stephen Curry^ (2) | Point guard | Golden State Warriors (3) | |
2016–17 | Russell Westbrook^ | Point guard | Oklahoma City Thunder (2) | |
2017–18 | James Harden^ | Shooting guard | Houston Rockets (4) | |
2018–19 | Giannis Antetokounmpo^ | Power forward | Milwaukee Bucks (4) |
Multi-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 | Bill Russell | Boston Celtics | 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965 |
Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls | 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998 | |
4 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia Warriors (1) / Philadelphia 76ers (3) | 1960, 1966, 1967, 1968 |
LeBron James | Cleveland Cavaliers (2) / Miami Heat (2) | 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 | |
3 | Moses Malone | Houston Rockets (2) / Philadelphia 76ers (1) | 1979, 1982, 1983 |
Larry Bird | Boston Celtics | 1984, 1985, 1986 | |
Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers | 1987, 1989, 1990 | |
2 | Bob Pettit | St. Louis Hawks | 1956, 1959 |
Karl Malone | Utah Jazz | 1997, 1999 | |
Tim Duncan | San Antonio Spurs | 2002, 2003 | |
Steve Nash | Phoenix Suns | 2005, 2006 | |
Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | 2015, 2016 | |
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 |
6 | Philadelphia 76ers | 1966, 1967, 1968, 1981, 1983, 2001 |
Chicago Bulls | 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2011 | |
4 | Houston Rockets | 1979, 1982, 1994, 2018 |
Milwaukee Bucks | 1971, 1972, 1974, 2019 | |
3 | San Antonio Spurs | 1995, 2002, 2003 |
Phoenix Suns | 1993, 2005, 2006 | |
Golden State Warriors (incl. Philadelphia Warriors) | 1960, 2015, 2016 | |
2 | St. Louis Hawks | 1956, 1959 |
Utah Jazz | 1997, 1999 | |
Cleveland Cavaliers | 2009, 2010 | |
Miami Heat | 2012, 2013 | |
Oklahoma City Thunder | 2014, 2017 | |
1 | Cincinnati Royals | 1964 |
Baltimore Bullets (1963–1973) | 1969 | |
New York Knicks | 1970 | |
Buffalo Braves | 1975 | |
Portland Trail Blazers | 1978 | |
Minnesota Timberwolves | 2004 | |
Dallas Mavericks | 2007 |
See also
- Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award
- NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant Most Valuable Player Award
- NBA Development League Most Valuable Player Award
- NBL (United States) Most Valuable Player Award
Notes
- The official title of the position was President until 1967 when it was changed to Commissioner.[1]
- 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]
- 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]
- Steve Nash, who was born in South Africa, was raised in Canada.[10]
- Allen Iverson received the only other first-place vote in 2000, while Carmelo Anthony received the only other first-place vote in 2013.[5]
- Except for seasons affected by lockouts, 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.
- Before the 1971–72 season, Lew Alcindor changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.[14]
- Malone, at 35 years and 284 days old at the end of the regular season, is the oldest MVP in NBA history.[15]
- 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
- "Most Valuable Player". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
- "Most Valuable Player Award Winners". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 7, 2008.
- "NBA MVP – Maurice Podoloff Trophy – Marc Mellon Sculpture Studio". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2002.
- Specific
- Monroe, Mike. "The Commissioners". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2008.
- "LeBron receives 116 first-place votes". ESPN.com. May 2, 2010. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
- "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
- "Most Valuable Player". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
- Wallace, 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. 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. Retrieved August 12, 2008.
- "NBA Players from around the world: 2005-2006 Season". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
- McPeek, Jeramie. "The Canadian Kid". NBA.com (from Fastbreak Magazine of Sept./Oct. 1996). Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved April 22, 2009.
- "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.
- "Stephen Curry wins MVP for second straight season". ESPN.com. May 11, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
- "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
- "Karl Malone 1998-99 game log". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
- "Derrick Rose 2010-11 game log". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 2, 2016.