NBA MVP History: Every Award Winner and the Greatest Seasons Ever
The NBA Most Valuable Player award has been given since 1956. It represents the pinnacle of regular-season excellence — the recognition that one player, above all others, elevated his team and dominated the league. Here is a comprehensive history of every multi-time winner and the greatest MVP seasons in history.
Most NBA MVP Awards
| Player | MVPs | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 6 | 1971-72, 1974, 1976-77, 1980 |
| Michael Jordan | 5 | 1988, 1991-92, 1996, 1998 |
| LeBron James | 4 | 2009-10, 2012-13 |
| Bill Russell | 5 | 1958, 1961-63, 1965 |
| Wilt Chamberlain | 4 | 1960, 1966-68 |
| Moses Malone | 3 | 1979, 1982-83 |
| Larry Bird | 3 | 1984-86 |
| Magic Johnson | 3 | 1987, 1989-90 |
| Nikola Jokic | 3 | 2021-22, 2024 |
| Stephen Curry | 2 | 2015-16 |
The Greatest MVP Seasons
Michael Jordan, 1987-88: The only season in NBA history where a player won both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. Jordan averaged 35.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists while playing elite defense.
For Jordan's complete story, see our Michael Jordan Biography.
Stephen Curry, 2015-16: The first unanimous MVP in NBA history. Curry averaged 30.1 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.4 rebounds while setting the single-season three-point record (402). The Warriors won 73 games — then the best record in NBA history.
For details on Curry's records, see our Stephen Curry Biography and Stephen Curry Career Stats.
Nikola Jokic, 2021-22: Jokic became the lowest-drafted MVP in history (41st pick) and the first center to win three MVPs since Shaquille O'Neal. His combination of scoring, rebounding, and elite playmaking redefined what a center can do.
For his full story, see our Nikola Jokic Biography.
LeBron James, 2012-13: Perhaps LeBron's most complete regular season — 26.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists — coming on the heels of his first championship. He shot 56.5% from the field.
For LeBron's career, see our LeBron James Biography.
Patrick Mahomes, 2018: The NFL MVP equivalent — Mahomes became the first player to win MVP in his first full year as an NFL starter since Kurt Warner. See our Patrick Mahomes Biography.
Youngest and Oldest MVP Winners
- Youngest NBA MVP: Derrick Rose — 22 years, 10 months (2011)
- Oldest NBA MVP: Michael Jordan — 35 years (1998)
- Youngest unanimous MVP: Stephen Curry — 27 years (2015-16 was not unanimous; 2015 was his first)
- Dirk Nowitzki (Germany) — 2007
- Steve Nash (Canada) — 2005, 2006
- Nikola Jokic (Serbia) — 2021, 2022, 2024
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece/Nigeria) — 2019, 2020
- Michael Jordan Biography
- LeBron James Biography
- Stephen Curry Biography
- Nikola Jokic Biography
- Giannis Antetokounmpo Biography
- NBA All-Time Scoring Records
- NBA.com, "MVP Award History," accessed 2024.
- Basketball Reference, "NBA Awards Database," 2024.
International MVPs
The NBA MVP award has increasingly gone to international players — reflecting the globalization of basketball:
For Giannis's story, see our Giannis Antetokounmpo Biography.