NBA Most Valuable Player Award

Bill Russell (left) won the award five times in his NBA career. Wilt Chamberlain (center) won the award four times in his career.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the award a record-setting six times in his career.
Michael Jordan won the award five times in his career.
Hakeem Olajuwon (right) is one of three players to win the NBA MVP and the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in the same season.
LeBron James is a four-time NBA MVP.
Tim Duncan, of the San Antonio Spurs, won back-to-back Most Valuable Player awards in the '01-02 and '02-03 seasons.
Derrick Rose became the youngest player to ever win the award at age 22.
Stephen Curry won back-to-back MVP awards and was the first unanimous winner in the 2015–16 season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo won back to back MVP awards in 2018–19 and 2019–20. He became the first player to win League MVP and the NBA Most Improved Player award.
Nikola Jokić won back to back MVP awards in 2020–21 and 2021–22. He became one of only two players to be selected in the second round of the NBA draft to win the award.

Annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given since the 1955–56 season to the best performing player of the regular season.

- NBA Most Valuable Player Award
Bill Russell (left) won the award five times in his NBA career. Wilt Chamberlain (center) won the award four times in his career.

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Malone in 2011

Karl Malone

American former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

American former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Malone in 2011
Malone, circa 1988
Malone in 1997
Malone's statue outside the Vivint Arena
Malone with Diamond Dallas Page in 1998

He was a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, a 14-time NBA All-Star, and an 11-time member of the All-NBA first team.

Jokić with the Denver Nuggets in 2020

Nikola Jokić

Serbian professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) who plays the center position.

Serbian professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) who plays the center position.

Jokić with the Denver Nuggets in 2020
Jokić in 2018
Jokić at the 2022 NBA All-Star Game
Jokić defending Kevin Durant at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

A four-time NBA All-Star, he has been named to the All-NBA Team on four occasions (including three first-team selections), and won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons.

Nash in 2014

Steve Nash

Canadian professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Canadian professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Nash in 2014
After Nash's return to Phoenix in 2004, they won 33 more games than they did the previous season.
Nash with then-teammate Shaquille O'Neal
Nash in 2009
Nash with the Lakers
Nash with the Lakers in 2013
Nash is known for his dribbling, passing, and shooting abilities.
Nash takes a jump shot while with the Suns. He is considered one of the best shooters in NBA history.
Nash at the 2008 eTalk Festival Party, during the Toronto International Film Festival
Nash contemplated a soccer career before deciding to focus on basketball full-time.
Nash, Wayne Gretzky, Nancy Greene, and Catriona Le May Doan participate in the lighting of the Olympic cauldron at the 2010 Winter Olympics

Nash was a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player while playing for the Phoenix Suns.

Curry in 2019

Stephen Curry

American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Curry in 2019
Curry at the 2008 NCAA Tournament
Curry defends against Allen Iverson in 2009
Curry in March 2011
Curry in April 2014
Curry about to pass while being guarded by John Wall and Nenê of the Washington Wizards. Curry averaged 7.7 assists per game during the 2014–15 regular season, good enough for sixth-best in the league.
Curry in February 2016
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Curry warming up prior to a November 2017 game
Curry during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game
Curry at the 2014 USA World Basketball Festival
Curry in 2011
Former President Barack Obama with Curry during a visit to the White House in 2015 to launch the president's initiative on malaria
Curry speaking at TechCrunch Disrupt San Francisco 2019
Curry during his first MVP season in 2014–15

An eight-time NBA All-Star and eight-time All-NBA selection, including four times on the first team, he has been named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) twice, has won four NBA championships, an NBA Finals MVP Award, and an NBA All-Star Game MVP Award.

Johnson in 2022

Magic Johnson

American former professional basketball player and former president of basketball operations of the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

American former professional basketball player and former president of basketball operations of the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Johnson in 2022
Johnson with the Lakers, c. undefined 1987
Johnson with the Lakers in 1990
Johnson, who had retired from basketball in 1991 due to HIV, was selected for the U.S. national team that won the gold medal at the Summer Olympics.
Johnson and Mayor Richard Riordan in 1995
Johnson against the Celtics in the 1987 NBA Finals
Johnson with his wife, Cookie, in 2014
Johnson giving a speech at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas on April 25, 2013.
In 2003, Johnson met with Nancy Pelosi to discuss federal assistance for those with AIDS.
Johnson's Hollywood Walk of Fame star
Johnson's number 32 jersey was retired by the Lakers in 1992.

Johnson's career achievements include three NBA MVP Awards, nine NBA Finals appearances, 12 All-Star games, and 10 All-NBA First and Second Team nominations.

Chamberlain with the Harlem Globetrotters in 1959

Wilt Chamberlain

American professional basketball player who played as a center.

American professional basketball player who played as a center.

Chamberlain with the Harlem Globetrotters in 1959
Chamberlain grabbing a rebound during a 1960 game against the New York Knicks
Chamberlain in 1962
Chamberlain and Nate Thurmond of the San Francisco Warriors competing for a rebound in 1966
Chamberlain in 1967
Chamberlain playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1969 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics
Elmore Smith and Chamberlain fighting for a rebound in 1971
Chamberlain with the Lakers in 1972
Chamberlain statue in South Philadelphia
Chamberlain historical marker outside of Philadelphia's Overbrook High School
Chamberlain being defended by the Celtics' Bill Russell in 1966
Chamberlain doing the twist with two dancers at Smalls Paradise in Harlem, New York

Although Chamberlain suffered a long string of NBA Finals losses during his career, he had a successful career, winning two NBA championships, earning four regular-season NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, the NBA Rookie of the Year award, one NBA Finals MVP award, and one NBA All-Star Game MVP award, and he was selected to thirteen NBA All-Star Games and ten All-NBA Teams (seven First and three Second teams).

Pettit with the St. Louis Hawks in 1962

Bob Pettit

Former American professional basketball player.

Former American professional basketball player.

Pettit with the St. Louis Hawks in 1962
Pettit in 1951
Pettit in 1961
Pettit in 1957
Pettit in 1958 after being named MVP of the All-Star Game
Pettit as a member of the Hawks
Pettit in 2013

In 1956, he became the first recipient of the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award and he won the award again in 1959.

Bird in 2004

Larry Bird

American former professional basketball player, coach and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

American former professional basketball player, coach and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Bird in 2004
Bird warming up for Indiana State
Bird recorded 14 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in his NBA debut against the Houston Rockets on October 12, 1979.
Bird playing for the Celtics in a game against the Washington Bullets
Bird playing for the Celtics in the 1985 NBA playoffs
A Larry Bird plaque at Quincy Market, Boston

Bird was a 12-time NBA All-Star, won two NBA Finals MVP awards and received the NBA Most Valuable Player Award three consecutive times (1984–1986), making him the only forward in league history to do so.

Duncan with the San Antonio Spurs in 2011

Tim Duncan

American former professional basketball player and coach.

American former professional basketball player and coach.

Duncan with the San Antonio Spurs in 2011
Duncan at the free throw line in 2005
Duncan (middle) and the Spurs at the White House after winning the 2003 NBA Finals
Duncan backs down Ben Wallace in a 2005 game
Duncan going up for a shot over the Lakers' Andrew Bynum
Duncan defending in the key against the Milwaukee Bucks in 2008
Duncan as an All-Star for the West in 2011
Duncan's 21 jersey was retired months after he stopped playing.
Duncan (No. 21) attempts to block Kobe Bryant's shot in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center
Duncan shooting a free throw in 2010.
Duncan joking with Tiago Splitter in 2010; he is known for his easy-going, laid-back personality.

He is a five-time NBA champion, a two-time NBA MVP, a three-time NBA Finals MVP, a 15-time NBA All-Star, and the only player to be selected to both the All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams for 13 consecutive seasons.

Antetokounmpo with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Greek-Nigerian professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Greek-Nigerian professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Antetokounmpo with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021
Antetokounmpo with the Bucks in November 2014
Antetokounmpo with the Bucks in December 2016
Antetokounmpo dunking against the Washington Wizards in 2018
Antetokounmpo during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game
Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo playing basketball at a local court in Sepolia, Athens, in 2015
The Antetokounmpo brothers participating in the 2022 NBA All-Star Skills Challenge

One of basketball's most decorated players, Antetokounmpo won consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player Awards in 2019 and 2020, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James as the only players in NBA history to win two MVPs before turning 26.