Basketball

List of NBA MVP Award Winners

The NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award is an annual award given to the best performing player of the regular season. This comprehensive list details every recipient of the prestigious honor since its inception. Recent winners include multiple-time MVP Nikola Jokić and Joel Embiid.

70 itemsUpdated Mar 14, 2026

The NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award stands as one of basketball's most coveted individual honors, recognizing the player deemed most valuable to their team's success during the regular season. Since its inception, the award has been a benchmark for individual excellence, celebrating athletes who consistently elevate their teams through unparalleled skill, leadership, and impact. This comprehensive list chronicles the illustrious history of the MVP award, showcasing the legends and modern-day titans who have etched their names into basketball lore. Each recipient represents a season of dominant performance, often leading their franchises to significant achievements and shaping the narrative of their respective eras. Over the decades, the criteria and perception of the MVP award have subtly evolved, reflecting changes in the game itself. In recent years, a notable trend has emerged with a significant number of international players claiming the award, highlighting the global expansion and talent pool of the NBA. Players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, and the multi-time winner Nikola Jokić exemplify this shift, showcasing diverse skill sets and redefining the traditional mold of an NBA superstar. Their consistent high-level play underscores a modern era where versatility, efficiency, and unique offensive and defensive contributions are highly valued. Winning the MVP award often serves as a career-defining moment, solidifying a player's place among the game's elite. Beyond individual accolades, MVP winners frequently become the faces of their franchises, driving fan engagement and inspiring future generations. The award not only recognizes a player's performance in a single season but also contributes to their overall legacy, influencing Hall of Fame candidacies and historical rankings. The list of MVP recipients is a veritable who's who of basketball greatness, featuring players who have not only dominated their eras but also fundamentally changed how the game is played. Their stories are interwoven with the fabric of NBA history, marking periods of innovation, rivalry, and unparalleled athletic achievement.

#Name
1

Nikola Jokić

2020-21 Season

2

Joel Embiid

2022-23 Season

3

Nikola Jokić

2020-21 Season

4

Nikola Jokić

2020-21 Season

5

Giannis Antetokounmpo

2018-19 Season

6

Giannis Antetokounmpo

2018-19 Season

7

James Harden

2017-18 Season

8

Russell Westbrook

2016-17 Season

9

Stephen Curry

2014-15 Season

10

Stephen Curry

2014-15 Season

11

Bob Pettit

1955-56 Season

12

Bob Cousy

1956-57 Season

13

Bill Russell

1957-58 Season

14

Bob Pettit

1958-59 Season

15

Wilt Chamberlain

1959-60 Season

16

Bill Russell

1960-61 Season

17

Bill Russell

1961-62 Season

18

Bill Russell

1962-63 Season

19

Oscar Robertson

1963-64 Season

20

Bill Russell

1964-65 Season

21

Wilt Chamberlain

1965-66 Season

22

Wilt Chamberlain

1966-67 Season

23

Wilt Chamberlain

1967-68 Season

24

Wes Unseld

1968-69 Season

25

Willis Reed

1969-70 Season

26

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1970-71 Season

27

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1971-72 Season

28

Dave Cowens

1972-73 Season

29

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1973-74 Season

30

Bob McAdoo

1974-75 Season

31

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1975-76 Season

32

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1976-77 Season

33

Bill Walton

1977-78 Season

34

Moses Malone

1978-79 Season

35

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1979-80 Season

36

Julius Erving

1980-81 Season

37

Moses Malone

1981-82 Season

38

Moses Malone

1982-83 Season

39

Larry Bird

1983-84 Season

40

Larry Bird

1984-85 Season

41

Larry Bird

1985-86 Season

42

Magic Johnson

1986-87 Season

43

Michael Jordan

1987-88 Season

44

Magic Johnson

1988-89 Season

45

Magic Johnson

1989-90 Season

46

Michael Jordan

1990-91 Season

47

Michael Jordan

1991-92 Season

48

Charles Barkley

1992-93 Season

49

Hakeem Olajuwon

1993-94 Season

50

David Robinson

1994-95 Season

51

Michael Jordan

1995-96 Season

52

Karl Malone

1996-97 Season

53

Michael Jordan

1997-98 Season

54

Karl Malone

1998-99 Season

55

Shaquille O'Neal

1999-00 Season

56

Allen Iverson

2000-01 Season

57

Tim Duncan

2001-02 Season

58

Tim Duncan

2002-03 Season

59

Kevin Garnett

2003-04 Season

60

Steve Nash

2004-05 Season

61

Steve Nash

2005-06 Season

62

Dirk Nowitzki

2006-07 Season

63

Kobe Bryant

2007-08 Season

64

LeBron James

2008-09 Season

65

LeBron James

2009-10 Season

66

Derrick Rose

2010-11 Season

67

LeBron James

2011-12 Season

68

LeBron James

2012-13 Season

69

Kevin Durant

2013-14 Season

70

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

2024-25 Season

This list is compiled from verified public records and reference sources. Last verified: March 14, 2026.

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