The NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, established during the 1955-56 season, is one of the most prestigious honors in the league. While the NBA itself dates back to 1946, it took nearly a decade for the MVP award to be introduced. Over the years, this accolade has been bestowed upon the league’s most outstanding players, reflecting their unparalleled contributions to their teams and the sport as a whole.
In 2022, the NBA took a significant step in commemorating one of its greatest legends by renaming the MVP trophy after Michael Jordan, a player whose impact on the game is immeasurable. The award’s rich history is a testament to the evolution of basketball, highlighting the dominance of various players across different eras.
Complete List of NBA MVP Winners
Here is a complete list of NBA MVP winners by year, showcasing the diverse array of talent that has graced the league:
- 2022–23: Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
- 2021–22: Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets)
- 2020–21: Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets)
- 2019–20: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
- 2018–19: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
- 2017–18: James Harden (Houston Rockets)
- 2016–17: Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)
- 2015–16: Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
- 2014–15: Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
- 2013–14: Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder)
- 2012–13: LeBron James (Miami Heat)
- 2011–12: LeBron James (Miami Heat)
- 2010–11: Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls)
- 2009–10: LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- 2008–09: LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- 2007–08: Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
- 2006–07: Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks)
- 2005–06: Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns)
- 2004–05: Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns)
- 2003–04: Kevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- 2002–03: Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)
- 2001–02: Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)
- 2000–01: Allen Iverson (Philadelphia 76ers)
- 1999–00: Shaquille O’Neal (Los Angeles Lakers)
- 1998–99: Karl Malone (Utah Jazz)
- 1997–98: Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
- 1996–97: Karl Malone (Utah Jazz)
- 1995–96: Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
- 1994–95: David Robinson (San Antonio Spurs)
- 1993–94: Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets)
- 1992–93: Charles Barkley (Phoenix Suns)
- 1991–92: Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
- 1990–91: Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
- 1989–90: Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers)
- 1988–89: Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers)
- 1987–88: Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
- 1986–87: Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers)
- 1985–86: Larry Bird (Boston Celtics)
- 1984–85: Larry Bird (Boston Celtics)
- 1983–84: Larry Bird (Boston Celtics)
- 1982–83: Moses Malone (Philadelphia 76ers)
- 1981–82: Moses Malone (Houston Rockets)
- 1980–81: Julius Erving (Philadelphia 76ers)
- 1979–80: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Los Angeles Lakers)
- 1978–79: Moses Malone (Houston Rockets)
- 1977–78: Bill Walton (Portland Trail Blazers)
- 1976–77: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Los Angeles Lakers)
- 1975–76: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Los Angeles Lakers)
- 1974–75: Bob McAdoo (Buffalo Braves)
- 1973–74: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Milwaukee Bucks)
- 1972–73: Dave Cowens (Boston Celtics)
- 1971–72: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Milwaukee Bucks)
- 1970–71: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Milwaukee Bucks)
- 1969–70: Willis Reed (New York Knicks)
- 1968–69: Wes Unseld (Baltimore Bullets)
- 1967–68: Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia 76ers)
- 1966–67: Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia 76ers)
- 1965–66: Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia 76ers)
- 1964–65: Bill Russell (Boston Celtics)
- 1963–64: Oscar Robertson (Cincinnati Royals)
- 1962–63: Bill Russell (Boston Celtics)
- 1961–62: Bill Russell (Boston Celtics)
- 1960–61: Bill Russell (Boston Celtics)
- 1959–60: Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors)
- 1958–59: Bob Pettit (St. Louis Hawks)
- 1957–58: Bill Russell (Boston Celtics)
- 1956–57: Bob Cousy (Boston Celtics)
- 1955–56: Bob Pettit (St. Louis Hawks)
Read More:
MVP Dominance: The Multi-Time Winners
Winning an MVP once is a remarkable achievement, but some players have etched their names in history by claiming the award multiple times. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar leads the pack with six MVP titles, a record that remains unchallenged. Following closely are Michael Jordan and Bill Russell, each with five MVPs. Their legacies are further solidified by their consistent excellence on the court, making them icons of the game.
Here’s a list of players who have won the MVP award more than once:
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 6 MVPs
- Michael Jordan: 5 MVPs
- Bill Russell: 5 MVPs
- LeBron James: 4 MVPs
- Wilt Chamberlain: 4 MVPs
- Larry Bird: 3 MVPs
- Magic Johnson: 3 MVPs
- Moses Malone: 3 MVPs
- Bob Pettit: 2 MVPs
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: 2 MVPs
- Karl Malone: 2 MVPs
- Nikola Jokić: 2 MVPs
- Steve Nash: 2 MVPs
- Stephen Curry: 2 MVPs
- Tim Duncan: 2 MVPs
The Significance of the MVP Award
The MVP award is more than just a recognition of individual brilliance; it encapsulates a player’s influence on the game during a given season. From the dominance of Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain in the early years to the modern-day versatility of players like LeBron James and Stephen Curry, the MVP award has chronicled the evolution of basketball. It is a symbol of the changing dynamics of the sport, where each era has produced its unique set of superstars who have left an indelible mark on the game.
As the NBA continues to grow, the MVP award remains a coveted achievement that every player aspires to win. It serves as a reminder of the enduring legacy of those who have shaped the game and set the standards for future generations.