NBA Regular Season MVPs Since 1955

From Bob Pettit to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, explore every NBA Regular Season MVP since 1955 - including rookie shockers, unanimous winners, and all-time legends like Jordan, LeBron, and Kareem. Whether you're a stat junkie or hoops historian, this ultimate MVP list reveals the players who defined their eras and rewrote the record books.

The NBA Regular Season Most Valuable Player (MVP) award is one of the most prestigious individual awards in basketball. It is awarded annually to the NBA player who is deemed to have had the most significant impact on his team's success during the NBA regular season.

The MVP award was first awarded to Bob Pettit of the St. Louis Hawks in the 1955-56 season. Wilt Chamberlain is the only player to win the award in his rookie season, achieving the feat in the 1959-60 season. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the record for the most MVP awards, winning the award six times in his career. Michael Jordan won the award five times in his career, and LeBron James has also won it four times. The award has been won by players from 12 different countries, with the United States having the most winners.

The only player to have won the award unanimously is Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, who achieved the feat in the 2015-16 season.

Notable MVP Facts

    Most MVPs overall: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 6.

    Second-highest: Bill Russell & Michael Jordan - 5 each.

    Others with 4 MVPs: Wilt Chamberlain, LeBron James.

    3-time MVPs: Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Nikola Jokić.

    2-time MVPs include: Bob Pettit, Karl Malone, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

    International MVP winners: Hakeem Olajuwon, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokić, Joel Embiid, Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander.

 

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NBA MVP Award Winners by Season

Season Player Position Team
NBA MVP Award Winners by Season
1955 - 56Bob PettitPower forwardSt. Louis Hawks
1956 - 57Bob CousyPoint guardBoston Celtics
1957 - 58Bill RussellCenterBoston Celtics
1958 - 59Bob PettitPower forwardSt. Louis Hawks
1959 - 60Wilt ChamberlainCenterPhiladelphia Warriors
1960 - 61Bill RussellCenterBoston Celtics
1961 - 62Bill RussellCenterBoston Celtics
1962 - 63Bill RussellCenterBoston Celtics
1963 - 64Oscar RobertsonPoint guardCincinnati Royals
1964 - 65Bill RussellCenterBoston Celtics
1965 - 66Wilt ChamberlainCenterPhiladelphia 76ers
1966 - 67Wilt ChamberlainCenterPhiladelphia 76ers
1967 - 68Wilt ChamberlainCenterPhiladelphia 76ers
1968 - 69Wes UnseldCenter/ForwardBaltimore Bullets
1969 - 70Willis ReedCenterNew York Knicks
1970 - 71Lew AlcindorCenterMilwaukee Bucks
1971 - 72Kareem Abdul-JabbarCenterMilwaukee Bucks
1972 - 73Dave CowensCenterBoston Celtics
1973 - 74Kareem Abdul-JabbarCenterMilwaukee Bucks
1974 - 75Bob McAdooPower forwardBuffalo Braves
1975 - 76Kareem Abdul-JabbarCenterLos Angeles Lakers
1976 - 77Kareem Abdul-JabbarCenterLos Angeles Lakers
1977 - 78Bill WaltonCenterPortland Trail Blazers
1978 - 79Moses MaloneCenterHouston Rockets
1979 - 80Kareem Abdul-JabbarCenterLos Angeles Lakers
1980 - 81Julius ErvingSmall forwardPhiladelphia 76ers
1981 - 82Moses MaloneCenterHouston Rockets
1982 - 83Moses MaloneCenterPhiladelphia 76ers
1983 - 84Larry BirdSmall forwardBoston Celtics
1984 - 85Larry BirdSmall forwardBoston Celtics
1985 - 86Larry BirdSmall forwardBoston Celtics
1986 - 87Magic JohnsonPoint guardLos Angeles Lakers
1987 - 88Michael JordanShooting guardChicago Bulls
1988 - 89Magic JohnsonPoint guardLos Angeles Lakers
1989 - 90Magic JohnsonPoint guardLos Angeles Lakers
1990 - 91Michael JordanShooting guardChicago Bulls
1991 - 92Michael JordanShooting guardChicago Bulls
1992 - 93Charles BarkleyPower forwardPhoenix Suns
1993 - 94Hakeem OlajuwonCenterHouston Rockets
1994 - 95David RobinsonCenterSan Antonio Spurs
1995 - 96Michael JordanShooting guardChicago Bulls
1996 - 97Karl MalonePower forwardUtah Jazz
1997 - 98Michael JordanShooting guardChicago Bulls
1998 - 99Karl Malone Power forwardUtah Jazz
1999 - 00Shaquille O'NealCenterLos Angeles Lakers
2000 - 01Allen IversonShooting guardPhiladelphia 76ers
2001 - 02Tim DuncanPower forwardSan Antonio Spurs
2002 - 03Tim DuncanPower forwardSan Antonio Spurs
2003 - 04Kevin GarnettPower forwardMinnesota Timberwolves
2004 - 05Steve NashPoint guardPhoenix Suns
2005 - 06Steve NashPoint guardPhoenix Suns
2006 - 07Dirk NowitzkiPower forwardDallas Mavericks
2007 - 08Kobe BryantShooting guardLos Angeles Lakers
2008 - 09LeBron JamesSmall forwardCleveland Cavaliers
2009 - 10LeBron JamesSmall forwardCleveland Cavaliers
2010 - 11Derrick RosePoint guardChicago Bulls
2011 - 12LeBron JamesSmall forwardMiami Heat
2012 - 13LeBron JamesSmall forwardMiami Heat
2013 - 14Kevin DurantSmall forwardOklahoma City Thunder
2014 - 15Stephen CurryPoint guardGolden State Warriors
2015 - 16Stephen CurryPoint guardGolden State Warriors
2016 - 17Russell WestbrookPoint guardOklahoma City Thunder
2017 - 18James HardenShooting guardHouston Rockets
2018 - 19Giannis AntetokounmpoPower forwardMilwaukee Bucks
2019 - 20Giannis AntetokounmpoPower forwardMilwaukee Bucks
2020 - 21Nikola JokicCenterDenver Nuggets
2021 - 22Nikola JokicCenterDenver Nuggets
2022 - 23Joel EmbidCenterPhiladelphia 76ers
2023 - 24Nikola JokicCenterDenver Nuggets
 

Nikola Jokić secured the 2023–24 NBA Regular Season MVP by showcasing unparalleled dominance, consistency, and efficiency as the cornerstone of the Denver Nuggets.

Averaging 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game, Jokić once again proved why he’s the most versatile big man in NBA history. He led the league in triple-doubles with 22, while posting a league-best Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 31.4. Jokić shot over 58% from the field and maintained elite passing numbers, directing Denver’s offense with surgical precision. His impact extended beyond the stat sheet: the Nuggets finished with a 57–25 record, second-best in the Western Conference, largely thanks to Jokić’s two-way excellence and unselfish play.

By winning his third MVP in four seasons, Jokić joined the ranks of legends like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, reinforcing his status as one of the greatest players of his generation and the ultimate embodiment of team-oriented basketball.

2024 - 25Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderGuardOklahoma City Thunder
 

Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander cemented his 2024–25 MVP case by delivering a historic performance across all facets of the game.

He led the NBA in scoring with 32.7 points per game on an efficient 51.9% shooting, while contributing 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks—which made him the only player to average at least 30 points, 6 assists, 50% shooting, 1.5 steals and 1 block since Michael Jordan. He appeared in 76 games and led the league in 20‑point games (75), 30‑point games (49), 40‑point games (13) and 50‑point games (4), even scoring at least 20 points in 72 straight games, the longest streak since the 1960s.

Beyond individual numbers, SGA’s dominance translated to team success: he spearheaded the Thunder to a league‑best 68–14 record and an NBA‑record +12.9 point differential. His defensive impact was significant too, contributing 208 combined steals and blocks—ranking third in the NBA—as he anchored the top-ranked defensive unit. Ultimately, earning 71 of 100 first‑place votes, he surpassed Nikola Jokić and Giannis Antetokounmpo to capture the MVP.

That synthesis of elite scoring, all‑around playmaking, defensive presence, and team leadership made Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander the clear and deserving choice for the NBA Regular Season MVP.

 

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NBA Basketball - Most Valuable Player Awards & NBA MVP Award Winners by Season