- MENU
- HOME
- SEARCH
- WORLD
- MAIN
- AFRICA
- ASIA
- BALKANS
- EUROPE
- LATIN AMERICA
- MIDDLE EAST
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Benelux
- Brazil
- Canada
- China
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- India
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Korea
- Mexico
- New Zealand
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Poland
- Russia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Taiwan
- Turkey
- USA
- BUSINESS
- WEALTH
- STOCKS
- TECH
- HEALTH
- LIFESTYLE
- ENTERTAINMENT
- SPORTS
- RSS
- iHaveNet.com: Basketball
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.
[ Related: All-Time Scoring Leaders | All-Time Assist Leaders | All-Time 3-Point Leaders | All-Time Rosters by NBA Team | Most NBA MVP Awards ]
NBA MVP Award Winners by Season
Season | Player | Position | Team |
---|---|---|---|
NBA MVP Award Winners by Season | |||
1955 - 56 | Bob Pettit | Power forward | St. Louis Hawks |
1956 - 57 | Bob Cousy | Point guard | Boston Celtics |
1957 - 58 | Bill Russell | Center | Boston Celtics |
1958 - 59 | Bob Pettit | Power forward | St. Louis Hawks |
1959 - 60 | Wilt Chamberlain | Center | Philadelphia Warriors |
1960 - 61 | Bill Russell | Center | Boston Celtics |
1961 - 62 | Bill Russell | Center | Boston Celtics |
1962 - 63 | Bill Russell | Center | Boston Celtics |
1963 - 64 | Oscar Robertson | Point guard | Cincinnati Royals |
1964 - 65 | Bill Russell | Center | Boston Celtics |
1965 - 66 | Wilt Chamberlain | Center | Philadelphia 76ers |
1966 - 67 | Wilt Chamberlain | Center | Philadelphia 76ers |
1967 - 68 | Wilt Chamberlain | Center | Philadelphia 76ers |
1968 - 69 | Wes Unseld | Center/Forward | Baltimore Bullets |
1969 - 70 | Willis Reed | Center | New York Knicks |
1970 - 71 | Lew Alcindor | Center | Milwaukee Bucks |
1971 - 72 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Center | Milwaukee Bucks |
1972 - 73 | Dave Cowens | Center | Boston Celtics |
1973 - 74 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Center | Milwaukee Bucks |
1974 - 75 | Bob McAdoo | Power forward | Buffalo Braves |
1975 - 76 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Center | Los Angeles Lakers |
1976 - 77 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Center | Los Angeles Lakers |
1977 - 78 | Bill Walton | Center | Portland Trail Blazers |
1978 - 79 | Moses Malone | Center | Houston Rockets |
1979 - 80 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Center | Los Angeles Lakers |
1980 - 81 | Julius Erving | Small forward | Philadelphia 76ers |
1981 - 82 | Moses Malone | Center | Houston Rockets |
1982 - 83 | Moses Malone | Center | Philadelphia 76ers |
1983 - 84 | Larry Bird | Small forward | Boston Celtics |
1984 - 85 | Larry Bird | Small forward | Boston Celtics |
1985 - 86 | Larry Bird | Small forward | Boston Celtics |
1986 - 87 | Magic Johnson | Point guard | Los Angeles Lakers |
1987 - 88 | Michael Jordan | Shooting guard | Chicago Bulls |
1988 - 89 | Magic Johnson | Point guard | Los Angeles Lakers |
1989 - 90 | Magic Johnson | Point guard | Los Angeles Lakers |
1990 - 91 | Michael Jordan | Shooting guard | Chicago Bulls |
1991 - 92 | Michael Jordan | Shooting guard | Chicago Bulls |
1992 - 93 | Charles Barkley | Power forward | Phoenix Suns |
1993 - 94 | Hakeem Olajuwon | Center | Houston Rockets |
1994 - 95 | David Robinson | Center | San Antonio Spurs |
1995 - 96 | Michael Jordan | Shooting guard | Chicago Bulls |
1996 - 97 | Karl Malone | Power forward | Utah Jazz |
1997 - 98 | Michael Jordan | Shooting guard | Chicago Bulls |
1998 - 99 | Karl Malone | Power forward | Utah Jazz |
1999 - 00 | Shaquille O'Neal | Center | Los Angeles Lakers |
2000 - 01 | Allen Iverson | Shooting guard | Philadelphia 76ers |
2001 - 02 | Tim Duncan | Power forward | San Antonio Spurs |
2002 - 03 | Tim Duncan | Power forward | San Antonio Spurs |
2003 - 04 | Kevin Garnett | Power forward | Minnesota Timberwolves |
2004 - 05 | Steve Nash | Point guard | Phoenix Suns |
2005 - 06 | Steve Nash | Point guard | Phoenix Suns |
2006 - 07 | Dirk Nowitzki | Power forward | Dallas Mavericks |
2007 - 08 | Kobe Bryant | Shooting guard | Los Angeles Lakers |
2008 - 09 | LeBron James | Small forward | Cleveland Cavaliers |
2009 - 10 | LeBron James | Small forward | Cleveland Cavaliers |
2010 - 11 | Derrick Rose | Point guard | Chicago Bulls |
2011 - 12 | LeBron James | Small forward | Miami Heat |
2012 - 13 | LeBron James | Small forward | Miami Heat |
2013 - 14 | Kevin Durant | Small forward | Oklahoma City Thunder |
2014 - 15 | Stephen Curry | Point guard | Golden State Warriors |
2015 - 16 | Stephen Curry | Point guard | Golden State Warriors |
2016 - 17 | Russell Westbrook | Point guard | Oklahoma City Thunder |
2017 - 18 | James Harden | Shooting guard | Houston Rockets |
2018 - 19 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Power forward | Milwaukee Bucks |
2019 - 20 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Power forward | Milwaukee Bucks |
2020 - 21 | Nikola Jokic | Center | Denver Nuggets |
2021 - 22 | Nikola Jokic | Center | Denver Nuggets |
2022 - 23 | Joel Embid | Center | Philadelphia 76ers |
2023 - 24 | Nikola Jokic | Center | Denver 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 - 25 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Guard | Oklahoma 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. |
[ Related: All-Time Scoring Leaders | All-Time Assist Leaders | All-Time 3-Point Leaders | All-Time Rosters by NBA Team | Most NBA MVP Awards ]