The National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player (MVP) is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given since the 1955–56 NBA season. The winner receives the Maurice Podoloff Trophy, which is named in honor of the first commissioner (then president)[a] of the NBA who served from 1946 until his retirement in 1963. MVP voting takes place immediately following the regular season. Until the 1979–80 NBA season, the MVP was originally selected by a vote of NBA players. However, since the 1980–81 NBA season, the award is decided by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Voting is conducted by 125 members of the media; three from each of the 30 cities in which NBA teams are located and the rest a mix of national writers and broadcasters. Since the 1982–83 season, every player who has won the award has played for a team with at least 50 regular-season wins (except for Karl Malone in the lockout-shortened 1998–99 season, in which the regular season was only 50 games long).[1]
Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has won the award six times.[2] Both Bill Russell and Michael Jordan have won the award five times[1] while Wilt Chamberlain has won the award four times in his career. Hall of Fame players Moses Malone, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson have each won the award three times, while Bob Pettit, Karl Malone, Tim Duncan and Steve Nash have each won it twice.[1] The most recent winner was LeBron James.[3] Only two rookies have won the award: Wilt Chamberlain in the 1959–60 season and Wes Unseld in the 1968–69 season.[4] Hakeem Olajuwon of Nigeria[c], Duncan of the U.S. Virgin Islands[d], Nash of Canada[e] and Dirk Nowitzki of Germany are the only MVP winners who were not raised in the United States. Duncan is an American citizen, but is considered an international player by the NBA because he was not born in one of the fifty states or Washington, D.C.[5]
Winners
Tim Duncan is one of two international players to win the award twice, along with Steve Nash.
Dirk Nowitzki is the only European to win the award.
^ |
Denotes player who is still active |
* |
Elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame |
Player (X) |
Denotes the number of times the player has been awarded the MVP award |
Season |
Player |
Position |
Nationality |
Team |
1955–56 |
Pettit, BobBob Pettit* |
Forward |
United States |
St. Louis Hawks |
1956–57 |
Cousy, BobBob Cousy* |
Guard |
United States |
Boston Celtics |
1957–58 |
Russell, BillBill Russell* |
Center |
United States |
Boston Celtics |
1958–59 |
Pettit, BobBob Pettit* (2) |
Forward |
United States |
St. Louis Hawks |
1959–60 |
Chamberlain, WiltWilt Chamberlain* |
Center |
United States |
Philadelphia Warriors |
1960–61 |
Russell, BillBill Russell* (2) |
Center |
United States |
Boston Celtics |
1961–62 |
Russell, BillBill Russell* (3) |
Center |
United States |
Boston Celtics |
1962–63 |
Russell, BillBill Russell* (4) |
Center |
United States |
Boston Celtics |
1963–64 |
Robertson, OscarOscar Robertson* |
Guard |
United States |
Cincinnati Royals |
1964–65 |
Russell, BillBill Russell* (5) |
Center |
United States |
Boston Celtics |
1965–66 |
Chamberlain, WiltWilt Chamberlain* (2) |
Center |
United States |
Philadelphia 76ers |
1966–67 |
Chamberlain, WiltWilt Chamberlain* (3) |
Center |
United States |
Philadelphia 76ers |
1967–68 |
Chamberlain, WiltWilt Chamberlain* (4) |
Center |
United States |
Philadelphia 76ers |
1968–69 |
Unseld, WesWes Unseld* |
Center/Forward |
United States |
Baltimore Bullets |
1969–70 |
Reed, WillisWillis Reed* |
Center/Forward |
United States |
New York Knicks |
1970–71 |
Alcindor, LewLew Alcindor*[b] |
Center |
United States |
Milwaukee Bucks |
1971–72 |
Abdul-Jabbar, KareemKareem Abdul-Jabbar*[b] (2) |
Center |
United States |
Milwaukee Bucks |
1972–73 |
Cowens, DaveDave Cowens* |
Center |
United States |
Boston Celtics |
1973–74 |
Abdul-Jabbar, KareemKareem Abdul-Jabbar*[b] (3) |
Center |
United States |
Milwaukee Bucks |
1974–75 |
McAdoo, BobBob McAdoo* |
Forward/Center |
United States |
Buffalo Braves |
1975–76 |
Abdul-Jabbar, KareemKareem Abdul-Jabbar*[b] (4) |
Center |
United States |
Los Angeles Lakers |
1976–77 |
Abdul-Jabbar, KareemKareem Abdul-Jabbar*[b] (5) |
Center |
United States |
Los Angeles Lakers |
1977–78 |
Walton, BillBill Walton* |
Center |
United States |
Portland Trail Blazers |
1978–79 |
Malone, MosesMoses Malone* |
Center/Forward |
United States |
Houston Rockets |
1979–80 |
Abdul-Jabbar, KareemKareem Abdul-Jabbar*[b] (6) |
Center |
United States |
Los Angeles Lakers |
1980–81 |
Erving, JuliusJulius Erving* |
Forward |
United States |
Philadelphia 76ers |
1981–82 |
Malone, MosesMoses Malone* (2) |
Center/Forward |
United States |
Houston Rockets |
1982–83 |
Malone, MosesMoses Malone* (3) |
Center/Forward |
United States |
Philadelphia 76ers |
1983–84 |
Bird, LarryLarry Bird* |
Forward |
United States |
Boston Celtics |
1984–85 |
Bird, LarryLarry Bird* (2) |
Forward |
United States |
Boston Celtics |
1985–86 |
Bird, LarryLarry Bird* (3) |
Forward |
United States |
Boston Celtics |
1986–87 |
Johnson, MagicMagic Johnson* |
Guard |
United States |
Los Angeles Lakers |
1987–88 |
Jordan, MichaelMichael Jordan* |
Guard |
United States |
Chicago Bulls |
1988–89 |
Johnson, MagicMagic Johnson* (2) |
Guard |
United States |
Los Angeles Lakers |
1989–90 |
Johnson, MagicMagic Johnson* (3) |
Guard |
United States |
Los Angeles Lakers |
1990–91 |
Jordan, MichaelMichael Jordan* (2) |
Guard |
United States |
Chicago Bulls |
1991–92 |
Jordan, MichaelMichael Jordan* (3) |
Guard |
United States |
Chicago Bulls |
1992–93 |
Barkley, CharlesCharles Barkley* |
Forward |
United States |
Phoenix Suns |
1993–94 |
Olajuwon, HakeemHakeem Olajuwon* |
Center |
United States[c] |
Houston Rockets |
1994–95 |
Robinson, DavidDavid Robinson* |
Center |
United States |
San Antonio Spurs |
1995–96 |
Jordan, MichaelMichael Jordan* (4) |
Guard |
United States |
Chicago Bulls |
1996–97 |
Malone, KarlKarl Malone |
Forward |
United States |
Utah Jazz |
1997–98 |
Jordan, MichaelMichael Jordan* (5) |
Guard |
United States |
Chicago Bulls |
1998–99 |
Malone, KarlKarl Malone (2) |
Forward |
United States |
Utah Jazz |
1999–00 |
O'Neal, ShaquilleShaquille O'Neal^ |
Center |
United States |
Los Angeles Lakers |
2000–01 |
Iverson, AllenAllen Iverson^ |
Guard |
United States |
Philadelphia 76ers |
2001–02 |
Duncan, TimTim Duncan^ |
Forward/Center |
United States Virgin Islands[d] |
San Antonio Spurs |
2002–03 |
Duncan, TimTim Duncan^ (2) |
Forward/Center |
United States Virgin Islands[d] |
San Antonio Spurs |
2003–04 |
Garnett, KevinKevin Garnett^ |
Forward |
United States |
Minnesota Timberwolves |
2004–05 |
Nash, SteveSteve Nash^ |
Guard |
Canada |
Phoenix Suns |
2005–06 |
Nash, SteveSteve Nash^ (2) |
Guard |
Canada |
Phoenix Suns |
2006–07 |
Nowitzki, DirkDirk Nowitzki^ |
Forward |
Germany |
Dallas Mavericks |
2007–08 |
Bryant, KobeKobe Bryant^ |
Guard |
United States |
Los Angeles Lakers |
2008–09 |
James, LeBronLeBron James^ |
Forward |
United States |
Cleveland Cavaliers |
Notes
- a The official title of the position was NBA President until 1967 when it was changed to NBA Commissioner.[6]
- b Before the 1971–72 season, Lew Alcindor converted to Islam and changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.[7]
- c Hakeem Olajuwon was born in Nigeria, but became a naturalized United States citizen in 1993.[8]
- d Because Tim Duncan is a United States citizen by birth, as are all natives of the U.S. Virgin Islands,[9] he was able to play for the U.S. internationally.[10]
- e Steve Nash, who was born in South Africa, was raised in Canada.[11]
References
- General
- Specific
- ^ a b c "Most Valuable Player". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. http://www.nba.com/history/awards_mvp.html. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
- ^ "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. http://www.nba.com/history/players/abduljabbar_bio.html. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
- ^ Peterson, Rob (May 4, 2009). "King James earns his place as Kia Most Valuable Player". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/rob_peterson/05/04/james.20090504/index.html. Retrieved May 4, 2009.
- ^ "Wes Unseld". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. http://www.nba.com/history/players/unseld_bio.html. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
- ^ "Bargnani becomes first European top NBA draft pick". People's Daily Online. June 29, 2006. http://english.people.com.cn/200606/29/eng20060629_278441.html. Retrieved June 16, 2008.
- ^ Mike Monroe. "The Commissioners". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. http://www.nba.com/history/commissioners.html. Retrieved July 8, 2008.
- ^ "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. http://www.nba.com/history/players/abduljabbar_bio.html. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
- ^ "Hakeem Olajuwon Bio: 1992-93". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. http://www.nba.com/playerfile/hakeem_olajuwon/bio.html. Retrieved June 15, 2008.
- ^ "Virgin Islands". CIA World Factbook. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/vq.html. Retrieved August 12, 2008.
- ^ "All-Time USA Basketball Men's Roster: D". USA Basketball. http://www.usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=men_alpha_D. Retrieved June 16, 2008.
- ^ McPeek, Jeramie. "The Canadian Kid". NBA.com (from Fastbreak Magazine on Sept./Oct. 1996). Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. http://www.nba.com/suns/news/fastbreak_nash_cover.html. Retrieved April 22, 2009.
NBA Most Valuable Player Award |
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