Editing NBA Most Valuable Player

{{short description|National Basketball Association award}}
{{about|the regular season award|other MVP awards given by the NBA}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{use American English|date=January 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{NBA awards}}
{{Infobox sports award
| name        = NBA Most Valuable Player
| image       = Bob McAdoo MVP.jpeg
| alt         = 
| caption     = [[Bob McAdoo]] and his [[1974–75 NBA season|1974–75]] NBA Most Valuable Player trophy
| sport       = [[Basketball]]
| league      = [[National Basketball Association]]
| givenfor    = Best performing player in regular season of the [[National Basketball Association]]
| first       = {{NBA Year|1955}}
| mostwins    = [[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]] (6)
| mostrecent  = [[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander]], [[Oklahoma City Thunder]] ({{nbay|2024|end}})
}}

The '''NBA Most Valuable Player ''' ('''MVP''') is an annual [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) award given since the [[1955–56 NBA season|1955–56 season]] to the [[most valuable player|best performing player]] of the [[NBA#Regular season|regular season]]. Since the [[2022–23 NBA season|2022–23 season]], winners receive the '''[[Michael Jordan]] Trophy''', named after the five-time MVP.<ref>{{cite web |title=NBA unveils The Michael Jordan Trophy to awarded to Kia MVP |url=https://www.nba.com/news/nba-unveils-6-new-kia-performance-award-winner-trophies |website=NBA.com |access-date=13 December 2022 |language=en |archive-date=February 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220213413/https://www.nba.com/news/nba-unveils-6-new-kia-performance-award-winner-trophies |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Goldsberry |first1=Kirk |title=NBA renaming MVP after Jordan in awards update |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35243492/nba-naming-mvp-michael-jordan-top-awards-reimagined |access-date=13 December 2022 |work=ESPN.com |date=13 December 2022 |language=en |archive-date=January 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107175444/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35243492/nba-naming-mvp-michael-jordan-top-awards-reimagined |url-status=live }}</ref>

Prior to 2021, the winner received the [[Maurice Podoloff Trophy]], which was named in honor of the first [[Commissioner of the NBA|commissioner]] (then president){{efn|The official title of the position was President until 1967 when it was renamed to [[Commissioner of the NBA|Commissioner]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/history/commissioners.html |title=The Commissioners|access-date=July 8, 2008 |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc |work=NBA.com |author=Monroe, Mike|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729053807/http://www.nba.com/history/commissioners.html|archive-date=July 29, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>}} of the NBA, who served from 1946 until 1963. With the switch to the Michael Jordan Trophy, his name was moved to a new Maurice Podoloff Trophy given to the team with the best regular season record.<ref name="NBApodoloff">{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/news/nba-unveils-redesigned-trophies-for-end-of-season-awards|title=NBA unveils redesigned trophies for end-of-season awards|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc|access-date=December 6, 2022|archive-date=December 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206164303/https://www.nba.com/news/nba-unveils-redesigned-trophies-for-end-of-season-awards|url-status=live}}</ref> 

Until the {{nbay|1979|app=season}}, the MVP was selected by a vote of NBA players. Since the {{nbay|1980|app=season}}, the award is decided by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the [[United States]] and [[Canada]]. Each member of the voting panel casts a vote for first to fifth place selections. Each first-place vote is worth 10 points; each second-place vote is worth seven; each third-place vote is worth five, fourth-place is worth three and fifth-place is worth one. Starting from 2010, one ballot was cast by fans through online voting. The player with the highest point total wins the award.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=5156199 |title=LeBron receives 116 first-place votes |date=May 2, 2010|access-date=May 2, 2010 |work=ESPN.com|archive-date=June 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624151052/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5156199|url-status=live}}</ref> As of the {{nbay|2024|app=season}}, the current holder of the award is [[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander]] of the [[Oklahoma City Thunder]].

Every player who has won this award and deemed eligible for the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] has been inducted. [[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]] won the award a record six times.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/history/players/abduljabbar_bio.html |title=Kareem Abdul-Jabbar|access-date=July 4, 2008 |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc |work=NBA.com|archive-date=July 31, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080731111524/http://www.nba.com/history/players/abduljabbar_bio.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He is also the only player to win the award despite his team not making the playoffs, in the {{nbay|1975|app=season}}. Both [[Bill Russell]] and Michael Jordan won the award five times,<ref name="MVP">{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/history/awards_mvp.html |title=Most Valuable Player|access-date=July 4, 2008 |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc |work=NBA.com|archive-date=May 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528030559/http://www.nba.com/history/awards_mvp.html|url-status=live}}</ref> while [[Wilt Chamberlain]] and [[LeBron James]] won the award four times.  Russell and James are the only players to have won the award four times in five seasons.<ref name="unanimous" /> [[Moses Malone]], [[Larry Bird]], [[Magic Johnson]] and [[Nikola Jokić]] each won the award three times, while [[Bob Pettit]], [[Karl Malone]], [[Tim Duncan]], [[Steve Nash]], [[Stephen Curry]] and [[Giannis Antetokounmpo]] won it twice.<ref name="MVP" /> Russell, Chamberlain, and Bird are the only players to win the award in three consecutive years. Only two rookies have won the award: Chamberlain ({{nbay|1959}}) and [[Wes Unseld]] ([[1968–69 NBA season|1968–69]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/history/players/unseld_bio.html |title=Wes Unseld|access-date=July 4, 2008 |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc |work=NBA.com|archive-date=May 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506053448/http://www.nba.com/history/players/unseld_bio.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Eight players who won MVP (combining for twelve total awards) are considered "[[List of foreign NBA players|international players]]" by the NBA: [[Hakeem Olajuwon]] of Nigeria,{{#tag:ref|Hakeem Olajuwon was born in Nigeria, but became a naturalized United States citizen in 1993. He was the first ever international player to win the award.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/hakeem_olajuwon/bio.html |title=Hakeem Olajuwon Bio: 1992–93 |access-date=June 15, 2008 |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc |work=NBA.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516203041/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/hakeem_olajuwon/bio.html |archive-date=May 16, 2008}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha|name=note_b}} Duncan of the [[United States Virgin Islands|U.S. Virgin Islands]],{{#tag:ref|Although Duncan was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands and is a United States citizen,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/virgin-islands/ |title=Virgin Islands |access-date=August 12, 2008 |publisher=[[CIA World Factbook]] |archive-date=January 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113025648/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/virgin-islands/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the NBA considers him an [[international NBA player|international player]].<ref name="intlnba">{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/players/international_player_directory.html |title=NBA Players from around the world: 2005–2006 Season|access-date=March 13, 2011 |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc |work=NBA.com|archive-date=October 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029055501/http://www.nba.com/players/international_player_directory.html|url-status=live}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha|name=note_c}} Nash of Canada,{{#tag:ref|Steve Nash, who was born in South Africa, was raised in Canada.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/suns/news/fastbreak_nash_cover.html |title=The Canadian Kid|access-date=April 22, 2009 |last=McPeek |first=Jeramie |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc |work=NBA.com (from Fastbreak Magazine of Sept./Oct. 1996)|archive-date=May 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511083521/http://www.nba.com/suns/news/fastbreak_nash_cover.html|url-status=live}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha|name=note_d}} [[Dirk Nowitzki]] of [[Germany]], Antetokounmpo of [[Greece]], [[Nikola Jokić]] of [[Serbia]], [[Joel Embiid]] of [[Cameroon]], and [[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander]] of Canada.{{#tag:ref|Joel Embiid was born in Cameroon, but became a naturalized United States citizen in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nba.com/news/76ers-star-joel-embiid-now-us-citizen |title=76ers star Joel Embiid now U.S. citizen |access-date=April 23, 2024 |work=NBA.com}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha|name=note_e}}<ref name="intlnba" />

[[Stephen Curry]] ([[2015–16 NBA season|2015–16]]) is the only player to have won the award unanimously. [[Shaquille O'Neal]] ([[1999–2000 NBA season|1999–2000]]) and [[LeBron James]] ([[2012–13 NBA season|2012–13]]) are the only two players to have fallen one vote shy of a unanimous selection, both receiving 120 of 121 votes.{{#tag:ref|[[Allen Iverson]] received the only other first-place vote in 2000, while [[Carmelo Anthony]] received the only other first-place vote in 2013.<ref name="unanimous">{{cite news |last=Wallace |first=Michael |title=LeBron James wins 4th MVP award |date=May 5, 2013 |work=ESPN.com |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs/2013/story/_/id/9244504/lebron-james-miami-heat-1-vote-shy-unanimous-mvp-honor |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130505201808/http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2013/story/_/id/9244504/lebron-james-miami-heat-1-vote-shy-unanimous-mvp-honor |archive-date=May 5, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}<ref name="unanimous" /> Since the {{nbay|1975|app=season}}, only three players have been named MVP for a season in which their team failed to win at least 50 regular season games—[[Moses Malone]] (twice, {{nbay|1978}} and {{nbay|1981}}), [[Russell Westbrook]] ({{nbay|2016}}) and Nikola Jokić ({{nbay|2021}}).<ref group=lower-alpha>Except for seasons affected by [[NBA lockout|lockouts]] and [[COVID-19]], when the schedule was shortened from the norm of 82 games. Karl Malone won in [[1998–99 NBA season|1998–99]] when Utah was 37–13 in 50 games, which projected to 60 wins in 82 games. James won in [[2011–12 NBA season|2011–12]] when the [[Miami Heat]] were 46–20 in 66 games, which projected to 57 wins. Nikola Jokić won in [[2020–21 NBA season|2020–21]] when Denver was 47–25 in 72 games, which projected to 54 wins in 82 games.</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Who is the leading MVP candidate? |date=March 6, 2015 |work=ESPN.com |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/5-on-5-150305/who-leading-mvp-candidate |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150306153610/http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/5-on-5-150305/who-leading-mvp-candidate |archive-date=March 6, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hubbard |first=Jan |title=NBA NOTES : Charles Barkley Running a Slick Campaign for MVP |date=April 22, 1990 |work=Newsday |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-04-22-sp-278-story.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150316021901/http://articles.latimes.com/print/1990-04-22/sports/sp-278_1_charles-barkley |archive-date=March 16, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

As part of efforts to reduce [[Load management (sports)|load management]] for star players in the league, effective with the 2023–24 season, when a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the league and [[National Basketball Players Association|its players' union]] took effect, players must appear in at least 65 games to be eligible for most regular-season awards and honors, including MVP. To receive credit for a game for purposes of award eligibility, a player must have been credited with at least 20 minutes played. However, two "near misses", in which the player appeared for 15 to 19 minutes, can be included in the 65-game count. Protections also exist for players who suffer season-ending injuries, who are eligible with 62 credited games, and those affected by what the CBA calls "bad faith circumstances".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/more-details-emerge-on-new-nba-cba-including-details-on-65-game-threshold-for-awards |title=More details emerge on new NBA CBA, including details on 65-game threshold for awards |first=Kurt |last=Helin |work=NBC Sports |date=April 18, 2023 |access-date=June 28, 2023 |archive-date=June 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628202158/https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/more-details-emerge-on-new-nba-cba-including-details-on-65-game-threshold-for-awards |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://imgix.cosmicjs.com/25da5eb0-15eb-11ee-b5b3-fbd321202bdf-Final-2023-NBA-Collective-Bargaining-Agreement-6-28-23.pdf |title=Article XXIX, Section 6: Games Played Requirement for Certain League Honors |work=NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement |publisher=National Basketball Players Association |pages=432–38 |date=July 2023 |access-date=September 13, 2023 |archive-date=September 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230916202133/https://imgix.cosmicjs.com/25da5eb0-15eb-11ee-b5b3-fbd321202bdf-Final-2023-NBA-Collective-Bargaining-Agreement-6-28-23.pdf |url-status=live }} The games played requirement specifically applies to the MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Most Improved Player awards, as well as the All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams.</ref>

== Winners ==
[[File:Wilt Chamberlain Bill Russell (lighting fixed).jpg|thumb|[[Bill Russell]] (left) won the award five times in his NBA career.  [[Wilt Chamberlain]] (center) won the award four times in his  career.]]
[[File:Bob Pettit 1961.jpeg|thumb|upright|[[Bob Pettit]] was the first player to win multiple MVP awards.]]
[[File:Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar Lipofsky.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]] won the award a record-setting six times in his career.]]
[[File:Larry Bird Lipofsky.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Larry Bird]] was the last player to win the award in three consecutive years.]]
[[File:Hakeemsigningautocropped.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Hakeem Olajuwon]] is one of three players to win the NBA MVP and the [[NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award]] in the same season.]]
[[File:Jordan_by_Lipofsky_16577.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Michael Jordan]] won the NBA MVP five times.]]
[[File:Derrick Rose 2.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Derrick Rose]] became the youngest player to ever win the award at age 22.]]
[[File:LeBron James (15662939969).jpg|thumb|upright|[[LeBron James]] is a four-time NBA MVP.]]
[[File:Stephen Curry dribbling 2016 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Stephen Curry]] won back-to-back MVP awards in 2014–15 and 2015–16. He is the first unanimous MVP selection in league history.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/15499690/stephen-curry-golden-state-warriors-first-unanimous-most-valuable-player |title=Stephen Curry wins MVP for second straight season |date=May 11, 2016 |website=ESPN.com|access-date=May 30, 2018|archive-date=June 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621000420/http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/15499690/stephen-curry-golden-state-warriors-first-unanimous-most-valuable-player|url-status=live}}</ref>]]
[[File:Giannis Antetokounmpo (39004611954).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Giannis Antetokounmpo]] won back-to-back MVP awards in 2018–19 and 2019–20.]]
[[File:Nikola Jokic free throw (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Nikola Jokić]] won three MVP awards in 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2023–24. He became one of only two players to be selected in the second round of the [[NBA draft]] to win the award.]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#CFECEC; border:1px solid #aaaaaa; width:6em"| ^
|Denotes player who is still active in the NBA
|-
| style="background-color:#FFFF99; border:1px solid #aaaaaa; width:6em"| *
|Inducted into the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]]
|-
|style="background:#CCFF99; width:1em"|†
|Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration{{efn|A player is not eligible for induction into the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] until he has been fully retired for three calendar years.}}
|-
| style="background-color:#FFE6BD; border:1px solid #aaaaaa; width:6em"| {{dagger}}
|Denotes player whose team won championship that year
|-
|Player (#)
|Denotes the number of times the player had been named MVP at that time
|-
|Team (#)
|Denotes the number of times a player from this team had won at that time
|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" summary="Season (sortable), Player (sortable), Position (sortable), Nationality (sortable) and Team (sortable)"
|-
!scope="col"| Season
!scope="col"| Player
!scope="col"| Position
!scope="col"| Nationality
!scope="col"| Team
|- <!-- Please DO NOT add winner until there is an official announcement. -->
| {{nbay|1955}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Bob|Pettit}}*
| [[Power forward (basketball)|Power forward]]
| {{flag|United States|1912}}
| [[St. Louis Hawks]]
|-
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| {{nowrap|{{nbay|1956}} {{dagger}}}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Bob|Cousy}}*
| [[Point guard]]
| {{flagu|United States|1912}}
| [[Boston Celtics]]
|-
| {{nbay|1957}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Bill|Russell}}*
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States|1912}}
| [[Boston Celtics]] (2)
|-
| {{nbay|1958}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Bob|Pettit}}* (2)
| [[Power forward (basketball)|Power forward]]
| {{flagu|United States|1912}}
| [[St. Louis Hawks]] (2)
|-
| {{nbay|1959}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Wilt|Chamberlain}}*
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States|1959}}
| [[Philadelphia Warriors]]
|-
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| {{nbay|1960}} {{dagger}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Bill|Russell}}* (2)
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Boston Celtics]] (3)
|-
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| {{nbay|1961}} {{dagger}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Bill|Russell}}* (3)
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Boston Celtics]] (4)
|-
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| {{nbay|1962}} {{dagger}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Bill|Russell}}* (4)
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Boston Celtics]] (5)
|-
| {{nbay|1963}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Oscar|Robertson}}*
| [[Point guard]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Cincinnati Royals]]
|-
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| {{nbay|1964}} {{dagger}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Bill|Russell}}* (5)
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Boston Celtics]] (6)
|-
| {{nbay|1965}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Wilt|Chamberlain}}* (2)
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Philadelphia 76ers]]
|-
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| {{nbay|1966}} {{dagger}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Wilt|Chamberlain}}* (3)
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Philadelphia 76ers]] (2)
|-
| {{nbay|1967}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Wilt|Chamberlain}}* (4)
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Philadelphia 76ers]] (3)
|-
| {{nbay|1968}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Wes|Unseld}}*
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Baltimore Bullets (1963–73)|Baltimore Bullets]]
|-
|!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| {{nbay|1969}} {{dagger}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Willis|Reed}}*
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[New York Knicks]]
|-
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| {{nbay|1970}} {{dagger}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Lew|Alcindor}}*{{#tag:ref|Before the 1971–72 season, Lew Alcindor changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/history/players/abduljabbar_bio.html |title=Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Bio|access-date=August 4, 2008 |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc |work=NBA.com|archive-date=July 31, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080731111524/http://www.nba.com/history/players/abduljabbar_bio.html|url-status=live}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha|name=note_h}}
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Milwaukee Bucks]]
|-
| {{nbay|1971}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Kareem|Abdul-Jabbar}}*<ref group=lower-alpha name=note_h /> (2)
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Milwaukee Bucks]] (2)
|-
| {{nbay|1972}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Dave|Cowens}}*
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Boston Celtics]] (7)
|-
| {{nbay|1973}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Kareem|Abdul-Jabbar}}*<ref group=lower-alpha name=note_h /> (3)
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Milwaukee Bucks]] (3)
|-
| {{nbay|1974}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Bob|McAdoo}}*
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Buffalo Braves]]
|-
| {{nbay|1975}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Kareem|Abdul-Jabbar}}*<ref group=lower-alpha name=note_h /> (4)
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Los Angeles Lakers]]
|-
| {{nbay|1976}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Kareem|Abdul-Jabbar}}*<ref group=lower-alpha name=note_h /> (5)
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Los Angeles Lakers]] (2)
|-
| {{nbay|1977}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Bill|Walton}}*
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Portland Trail Blazers]]
|-
| {{nbay|1978}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Moses|Malone}}*
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Houston Rockets]]
|-
| !scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| {{nbay|1979}} {{dagger}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Kareem|Abdul-Jabbar}}*<ref group=lower-alpha name=note_h /> (6)
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Los Angeles Lakers]] (3)
|-
| {{nbay|1980}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Julius|Erving}}*
| [[Small forward]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Philadelphia 76ers]] (4)
|-
| {{nbay|1981}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Moses|Malone}}* (2)
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Houston Rockets]] (2)
|-
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| {{nbay|1982}} {{dagger}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Moses|Malone}}* (3)
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Philadelphia 76ers]] (5)
|-
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| {{nbay|1983}} {{dagger}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Larry|Bird}}*
| [[Small forward]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Boston Celtics]] (8)
|-
| {{nbay|1984}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Larry|Bird}}* (2)
| [[Small forward]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Boston Celtics]] (9)
|-
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| {{nbay|1985}} {{dagger}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Larry|Bird}}* (3)
| [[Small forward]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| {{sort|Boston Celtics 910|[[Boston Celtics]] (10)}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| {{nbay|1986}} {{dagger}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Magic|Johnson}}*
| [[Point guard]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Los Angeles Lakers]] (4)
|-
| {{nbay|1987}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Michael|Jordan}}*
| [[Shooting guard]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Chicago Bulls]]
|-
| {{nbay|1988}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Magic|Johnson}}* (2)
| [[Point guard]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Los Angeles Lakers]] (5)
|-
| {{nbay|1989}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Magic|Johnson}}* (3)
| [[Point guard]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Los Angeles Lakers]] (6)
|-
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| {{nbay|1990}} {{dagger}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Michael|Jordan}}* (2)
| [[Shooting guard]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Chicago Bulls]] (2)
|-
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| {{nbay|1991}} {{dagger}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Michael|Jordan}}* (3)
| [[Shooting guard]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Chicago Bulls]] (3)
|-
| {{nbay|1992}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Charles|Barkley}}*
| [[Power forward (basketball)|Power forward]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Phoenix Suns]]
|-
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| {{nbay|1993}} {{dagger}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Hakeem|Olajuwon}}*
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{NGR}}<ref group=lower-alpha name=note_b />
| [[Houston Rockets]] (3)
|-
| {{nbay|1994}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|David|Robinson}}*
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[San Antonio Spurs]]
|-
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| {{nbay|1995}} {{dagger}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Michael|Jordan}}* (4)
| [[Shooting guard]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Chicago Bulls]] (4)
|-
| {{nbay|1996}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Karl|Malone}}*
| [[Power forward (basketball)|Power forward]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Utah Jazz]]
|-
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| {{nbay|1997}} {{dagger}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Michael|Jordan}}* (5)
| [[Shooting guard]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Chicago Bulls]] (5)
|-
| {{nbay|1998}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Karl|Malone}}* (2){{#tag:ref|Malone, at 35 years and 284 days old at the end of the regular season, is the oldest MVP in NBA history.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/malonka01/gamelog/1999/ |title=Karl Malone 1998–99 game log |publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=October 2, 2016|archive-date=July 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170714121819/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/malonka01/gamelog/1999/|url-status=live}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}
| [[Power forward (basketball)|Power forward]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Utah Jazz]] (2)
|-
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| {{nbay|1999|trunc=y}} {{dagger}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Shaquille|O'Neal}}*
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Los Angeles Lakers]] (7)
|-
| {{nbay|2000}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Allen|Iverson}}*
| [[Shooting guard]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Philadelphia 76ers]] (6)
|-
| {{nbay|2001}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Tim|Duncan}}*
| [[Power forward (basketball)|Power forward]]
| {{flagu|United States}}<ref group=lower-alpha name=note_c />
| [[San Antonio Spurs]] (2)
|-
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| {{nbay|2002}} {{dagger}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Tim|Duncan}}* (2)
| [[Power forward (basketball)|Power forward]]
| {{flagu|United States}}<ref group=lower-alpha name=note_c />
| [[San Antonio Spurs]] (3)
|-
| {{nbay|2003}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Kevin|Garnett}}*
| [[Power forward (basketball)|Power forward]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Minnesota Timberwolves]]
|-
| {{nbay|2004}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Steve|Nash}}*
| [[Point guard]]
| {{CAN}}<ref group=lower-alpha name=note_d />
| [[Phoenix Suns]] (2)
|-
| {{nbay|2005}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Steve|Nash}}* (2)
| [[Point guard]]
| {{flagu|Canada}}<ref group=lower-alpha name=note_d />
| [[Phoenix Suns]] (3)
|-
| {{nbay|2006}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Dirk|Nowitzki}}*
| [[Power forward (basketball)|Power forward]]
| {{GER}}
| [[Dallas Mavericks]]
|-
| {{nbay|2007}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Kobe|Bryant}}*
| [[Shooting guard]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Los Angeles Lakers]] (8)
|-
| {{nbay|2008}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CFECEC"| {{sortname|LeBron|James}}^
| [[Small forward]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
|-
| {{nbay|2009}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CFECEC"| {{sortname|LeBron|James}}^ (2)
| [[Small forward]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] (2)
|-
| {{nbay|2010}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CCFF99"| {{sortname|Derrick|Rose}}<sup>†</sup>{{#tag:ref|Rose, at 22 years and 191 days old at the end of the regular season, is the youngest MVP in NBA history.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/rosede01/gamelog/2011/ |title=Derrick Rose 2010–11 game log |publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=October 2, 2016|archive-date=March 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317150151/https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/rosede01/gamelog/2011|url-status=live}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}
| [[Point guard]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Chicago Bulls]] (6)
|-
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| {{nbay|2011}} {{dagger}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CFECEC"| {{sortname|LeBron|James}}^ (3)
| [[Small forward]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Miami Heat]]
|-
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| {{nbay|2012}} {{dagger}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CFECEC"| {{sortname|LeBron|James}}^ (4)
| [[Small forward]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Miami Heat]] (2)
|-
| {{nbay|2013}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CFECEC"| {{sortname|Kevin|Durant}}^
| [[Small forward]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Oklahoma City Thunder]]
|-
!scope="row" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| {{nbay|2014}} {{dagger}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CFECEC"| {{sortname|Stephen|Curry}}^
| [[Point guard]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Golden State Warriors]] (2)
|-
| {{nbay|2015}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CFECEC"| {{sortname|Stephen|Curry}}^ (2)
| [[Point guard]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Golden State Warriors]] (3)
|-
| {{nbay|2016}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CFECEC"| {{sortname|Russell|Westbrook}}^
| [[Point guard]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Oklahoma City Thunder]] (2)
|-
| {{nbay|2017}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CFECEC"| {{sortname|James|Harden}}^
| [[Shooting guard]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Houston Rockets]] (4)
|-
| {{nbay|2018}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CFECEC"| {{sortname|Giannis|Antetokounmpo}}^
| [[Power forward (basketball)|Power forward]]
| {{GRE}}
| [[Milwaukee Bucks]] (4)
|-
| {{nbay|2019}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CFECEC"| {{sortname|Giannis|Antetokounmpo}}^ (2)
| [[Power forward (basketball)|Power forward]]
| {{flagu|Greece}}
| [[Milwaukee Bucks]] (5)
|-
| {{nbay|2020}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CFECEC"| {{sortname|Nikola|Jokić}}^
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{SRB}}
| [[Denver Nuggets]]
|-
| {{nbay|2021}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CFECEC"| {{sortname|Nikola|Jokić}}^ (2)
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|Serbia}}
| [[Denver Nuggets]] (2)
|-
| {{nbay|2022}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CFECEC"| {{sortname|Joel|Embiid}}^
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{CMR}}<ref group=lower-alpha name=note_e />
| [[Philadelphia 76ers]] (7)
|-
| {{nbay|2023}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CFECEC"| {{sortname|Nikola|Jokić}}^ (3)
| [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| {{flagu|Serbia}}
| [[Denver Nuggets]] (3)
|-
| {{nbay|2024}}
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CFECEC"| {{sortname|Shai|Gilgeous-Alexander}}^
| [[Point guard]]
| {{flagu|Canada}}
| [[Oklahoma City Thunder]] (3)
|}

== Multiple-time winners ==

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Awards!!Player!!Team(s)!!Years
|-
|6||{{flagicon|USA}} {{sortname|Kareem|Abdul-Jabbar}}|||[[Milwaukee Bucks]] (3) / [[Los Angeles Lakers]] (3)||{{nbay|1970|end}}, {{nbay|1971|end}}, {{nbay|1973|end}}, {{nbay|1975|end}}, {{nbay|1976|end}}, {{nbay|1979|end}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |5||{{flagicon|USA}} {{sortname|Michael|Jordan}}||[[Chicago Bulls]]||{{nbay|1987|end}}, {{nbay|1990|end}}, {{nbay|1991|end}}, {{nbay|1995|end}}, {{nbay|1997|end}}
|-
|{{flagicon|USA}} {{sortname|Bill|Russell}}||[[Boston Celtics]]||{{nbay|1957|end}}, {{nbay|1960|end}}, {{nbay|1961|end}}, {{nbay|1962|end}}, {{nbay|1964|end}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |4||{{flagicon|USA}} {{sortname|Wilt|Chamberlain}}||[[Philadelphia Warriors]] (1) / [[Philadelphia 76ers]] (3)||{{nbay|1959|end}}, {{nbay|1965|end}}, {{nbay|1966|end}}, {{nbay|1967|end}}
|-
|{{flagicon|USA}} {{sortname|LeBron|James}}||[[Cleveland Cavaliers]] (2) / [[Miami Heat]] (2)||{{nbay|2008|end}}, {{nbay|2009|end}}, {{nbay|2011|end}}, {{nbay|2012|end}}
|-
| rowspan="4" |3||{{flagicon|USA}} {{sortname|Larry|Bird}}||[[Boston Celtics]]||{{nbay|1983|end}}, {{nbay|1984|end}}, {{nbay|1985|end}}
|-
|{{flagicon|USA}} {{sortname|Magic|Johnson}}||[[Los Angeles Lakers]]||{{nbay|1986|end}}, {{nbay|1988|end}}, {{nbay|1989|end}}
|-
|{{flagicon|SRB}} {{sortname|Nikola|Jokić}}||[[Denver Nuggets]]||{{nbay|2020|end}}, {{nbay|2021|end}}, {{nbay|2023|end}}
|-
|{{flagicon|USA}} {{sortname|Moses|Malone}}||[[Houston Rockets]] (2) / [[Philadelphia 76ers]] (1)||{{nbay|1978|end}}, {{nbay|1981|end}}, {{nbay|1982|end}}
|-
| rowspan="6" |2||{{flagicon|GRE}} {{sortname|Giannis|Antetokounmpo}}||[[Milwaukee Bucks]]||{{nbay|2018|end}}, {{nbay|2019|end}}
|-
|{{flagicon|USA}} {{sortname|Stephen|Curry}}||[[Golden State Warriors]]||{{nbay|2014|end}}, {{nbay|2015|end}}
|-
|{{flagicon|USA}} {{sortname|Tim|Duncan}}||[[San Antonio Spurs]]||{{nbay|2001|end}}, {{nbay|2002|end}}
|-
|{{flagicon|USA}} {{sortname|Karl|Malone}}||[[Utah Jazz]]||{{nbay|1996|end}}, {{nbay|1998|end}}
|-
|{{flagicon|CAN}} {{sortname|Steve|Nash}}||[[Phoenix Suns]]||{{nbay|2004|end}}, {{nbay|2005|end}}
|-
|{{flagicon|USA}} {{sortname|Bob|Pettit}}||[[St. Louis Hawks]]||{{nbay|1955|end}}, {{nbay|1958|end}}
|}

== Teams ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Awards !!Teams !!Years
|-
|10
|[[Boston Celtics]]
|{{nbay|1956|end}}, {{nbay|1957|end}}, {{nbay|1960|end}}, {{nbay|1961|end}}, {{nbay|1962|end}}, {{nbay|1964|end}}, {{nbay|1972|end}}, {{nbay|1983|end}}, {{nbay|1984|end}}, {{nbay|1985|end}}
|-
|8
|[[Los Angeles Lakers]]
|{{nbay|1975|end}}, {{nbay|1976|end}}, {{nbay|1979|end}}, {{nbay|1986|end}}, {{nbay|1988|end}}, {{nbay|1989|end}}, {{nbay|1999|end}}, {{nbay|2007|end}}
|-
|7
|[[Philadelphia 76ers]]
|{{nbay|1965|end}}, {{nbay|1966|end}}, {{nbay|1967|end}}, {{nbay|1980|end}}, {{nbay|1982|end}}, {{nbay|2000|end}}, {{nbay|2022|end}}
|-
|6
|[[Chicago Bulls]]
|{{nbay|1987|end}}, {{nbay|1990|end}}, {{nbay|1991|end}}, {{nbay|1995|end}}, {{nbay|1997|end}}, {{nbay|2010|end}}
|-
|5
|[[Milwaukee Bucks]]
|{{nbay|1970|end}}, {{nbay|1971|end}}, {{nbay|1973|end}}, {{nbay|2018|end}}, {{nbay|2019|end}}
|-
|4
|[[Houston Rockets]]
|{{nbay|1978|end}}, {{nbay|1981|end}}, {{nbay|1993|end}}, {{nbay|2017|end}}
|-
|rowspan=5|3
|[[Denver Nuggets]]
|{{nbay|2020|end}}, {{nbay|2021|end}}, {{nbay|2023|end}}
|-
|[[Golden State Warriors|Philadelphia / Golden State Warriors]]
|{{nbay|1959|end}}, {{nbay|2014|end}}, {{nbay|2015|end}}
|-
|[[Oklahoma City Thunder]]
|{{nbay|2013|end}}, {{nbay|2016|end}}, {{nbay|2024|end}}
|-
|[[Phoenix Suns]]
|{{nbay|1992|end}}, {{nbay|2004|end}}, {{nbay|2005|end}}
|-
|[[San Antonio Spurs]]
|{{nbay|1994|end}}, {{nbay|2001|end}}, {{nbay|2002|end}}
|-
|rowspan=4|2
|[[Atlanta Hawks|St. Louis Hawks (now Atlanta Hawks)]]
|{{nbay|1955|end}}, {{nbay|1958|end}}
|-
|[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
|{{nbay|2008|end}}, {{nbay|2009|end}}
|-
|[[Miami Heat]]
|{{nbay|2011|end}}, {{nbay|2012|end}}
|-
|[[Utah Jazz]]
|{{nbay|1996|end}}, {{nbay|1998|end}}
|-
| rowspan="7" |1
|[[Washington Wizards|Baltimore Bullets (now Washington Wizards)]]
|{{nbay|1968|end}}
|-
|[[Los Angeles Clippers|Buffalo Braves (now Los Angeles Clippers)]]
|{{nbay|1974|end}}
|-
|[[Sacramento Kings|Cincinnati Royals (now Sacramento Kings)]]
|{{nbay|1963|end}}
|-
|[[Dallas Mavericks]]
|{{nbay|2006|end}}
|-
|[[Minnesota Timberwolves]]
|{{nbay|2003|end}}
|-
|[[New York Knicks]]
|{{nbay|1969|end}}
|-
|[[Portland Trail Blazers]]
|{{nbay|1977|end}}
|-
| rowspan="8" |0
|[[Brooklyn Nets]]
| rowspan="8" |None
|-
|[[Charlotte Hornets]]
|-
|[[Detroit Pistons]]
|-
|[[Indiana Pacers]]
|-
|[[Memphis Grizzlies]]
|-
|[[New Orleans Pelicans]]
|-
|[[Orlando Magic]]
|-
|[[Toronto Raptors]]
|}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Sports}}
* [[Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award]]
* [[NBA Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award]]
* [[NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant Most Valuable Player Award]]
* [[NBA G League Most Valuable Player Award]]
* [[NBL (United States) Most Valuable Player Award]]
* [[NBA records]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

== References ==
;General
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.marcmellon.com/blog/nba-mvp |title=NBA MVP – Maurice Podoloff Trophy – Marc Mellon Sculpture Studio |date=January 12, 2022 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |archive-date=January 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118173534/https://www.marcmellon.com/blog/nba-mvp |url-status=live }}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/history/awards_mvp.html|title=Most Valuable Player|access-date=July 4, 2008|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc|work=NBA.com|archive-date=May 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528030559/http://www.nba.com/history/awards_mvp.html|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/mvp.html|title=Most Valuable Player Award Winners|access-date=July 7, 2008|work=basketball-reference.com|archive-date=June 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629041314/http://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/mvp.html|url-status=live}}
{{refend}}

;Specific
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{NBA MVP's}}
{{NBA}}

{{Featured list}}

[[Category:NBA awards|Most Valuable]]
[[Category:NBA lists]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1956]]
[[Category:NBA most valuable player awards]]
[[Category:1956 establishments in the United States]]