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Which NBA players have been named most valuable player?
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, wearing a purple Los Angeles Lakers jersey with number 33, leaps to make a layup during a basketball game in a crowded arena.
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, wearing a purple Los Angeles Lakers jersey with number 33, leaps to make a layup during a basketball game in a crowded arena.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was named MVP a record six times.

Which NBA players have been named most valuable player?

Written by
Will Gosner
Will Gosner is an associate editor covering general interest topics, including film, television, and sports. He has a B.A. from the University of Chicago. He joined Britannica in 2014.
Will Gosner
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Top Questions

Who has the most MVPs in the NBA?

Who won the 2025 NBA MVP?

Who is the youngest NBA MVP ever?

Who is the oldest NBA MVP?

Who won the most consecutive NBA MVP awards?

After the conclusion of each NBA regular season, a group of 100 journalists and broadcasters votes to determine the winner of the league’s Most Valuable Player award. The criteria for the honor are not explicitly stated by the NBA, so each voter weighs a number of factors. Some may give priority to quantitative metrics, such as players’ individual statistical production and their teams’ win-loss records. Others may value subjective attributes, awarding players who have overcome adversity or who play with exceptional flair.

Fifteen players have won more than one MVP award, cementing their place among the very best basketball players of all time. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the award a record six times, and Michael Jordan and Bill Russell each were named MVP on five occasions. Find out which other players have been named MVP in the table below.

season player team
1Now known as the Atlanta Hawks
2Now known as the Golden State Warriors
3Now known as the Sacramento Kings
4Now known as the Washington Wizards
5Now known as the Los Angeles Clippers
1955–56 Bob Pettit St. Louis Hawks1
1956–57 Bob Cousy Boston Celtics
1957–58 Bill Russell Boston Celtics
1958–59 Bob Pettit St. Louis Hawks
1959–60 Wilt Chamberlain Philadelphia Warriors2
1960–61 Bill Russell Boston Celtics
1961–62 Bill Russell Boston Celtics
1962–63 Bill Russell Boston Celtics
1963–64 Oscar Robertson Cincinnati Royals3
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 Bullets4
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 Braves5
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 JokiΔ‡ Denver Nuggets
2021–22 Nikola JokiΔ‡ Denver Nuggets
2022–23 Joel Embiid Philadelphia 76ers
2023–24 Nikola JokiΔ‡ Denver Nuggets
2024–25 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Oklahoma City Thunder
Will Gosner
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