whynba.
Following

Today's NBA games

All scores & games
Game times: Eastern Time.Overview follows Eastern league dates.
NBA AWARD HISTORY

NBA Most Valuable Player winners

71 official selections across 71 award seasons, 1956–2026. Explore the winners, historical teams and repeat recipients.

Reference checked 2026-10-09; source revision dated 2026-09-26. Reference revision. Historical team names and recipient labels are preserved. Counts describe this dated award history.

At a glance

Latest listed winner
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — 2025–26
Most selections in this history
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6)
Distinct official recipients
37

Regular-season MVP is separate from Finals MVP. Lew Alcindor and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are counted as one recipient; the historical name remains in its original season row.

Official winners by season

Career award no. is the recipient’s cumulative total at that selection. Team names reflect the franchise name at the time of the award.

Most Valuable Player: official winners, newest award year first
SeasonPlayerTeam at awardSource positionSource nationalityCareer award no.
2025–26Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderOklahoma City ThunderPoint guardCanada2
2024–25Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderOklahoma City ThunderPoint guardCanada1
2023–24Nikola JokićDenver NuggetsCenterSerbia3
2022–23Joel EmbiidPhiladelphia 76ersCenterCameroon1
2021–22Nikola JokićDenver NuggetsCenterSerbia2
2020–21Nikola JokićDenver NuggetsCenterSerbia1
2019–20Giannis AntetokounmpoMilwaukee BucksPower forwardGreece2
2018–19Giannis AntetokounmpoMilwaukee BucksPower forwardGreece1
2017–18James HardenHouston RocketsShooting guardUnited States1
2016–17Russell WestbrookOklahoma City ThunderPoint guardUnited States1
2015–16Stephen CurryGolden State WarriorsPoint guardUnited States2
2014–15Stephen CurryGolden State WarriorsPoint guardUnited States1
2013–14Kevin DurantOklahoma City ThunderSmall forwardUnited States1
2012–13LeBron JamesMiami HeatSmall forwardUnited States4
2011–12LeBron JamesMiami HeatSmall forwardUnited States3
2010–11Derrick RoseChicago BullsPoint guardUnited States1
2009–10LeBron JamesCleveland CavaliersSmall forwardUnited States2
2008–09LeBron JamesCleveland CavaliersSmall forwardUnited States1
2007–08Kobe BryantLos Angeles LakersShooting guardUnited States1
2006–07Dirk NowitzkiDallas MavericksPower forwardGermany1
2005–06Steve NashPhoenix SunsPoint guardCanada2
2004–05Steve NashPhoenix SunsPoint guardCanada1
2003–04Kevin GarnettMinnesota TimberwolvesPower forwardUnited States1
2002–03Tim DuncanSan Antonio SpursPower forwardUnited States2
2001–02Tim DuncanSan Antonio SpursPower forwardUnited States1
2000–01Allen IversonPhiladelphia 76ersShooting guardUnited States1
1999–00Shaquille O'NealLos Angeles LakersCenterUnited States1
1998–99Karl MaloneUtah JazzPower forwardUnited States2
1997–98Michael JordanChicago BullsShooting guardUnited States5
1996–97Karl MaloneUtah JazzPower forwardUnited States1
1995–96Michael JordanChicago BullsShooting guardUnited States4
1994–95David RobinsonSan Antonio SpursCenterUnited States1
1993–94Hakeem OlajuwonHouston RocketsCenterNigeria1
1992–93Charles BarkleyPhoenix SunsPower forwardUnited States1
1991–92Michael JordanChicago BullsShooting guardUnited States3
1990–91Michael JordanChicago BullsShooting guardUnited States2
1989–90Magic JohnsonLos Angeles LakersPoint guardUnited States3
1988–89Magic JohnsonLos Angeles LakersPoint guardUnited States2
1987–88Michael JordanChicago BullsShooting guardUnited States1
1986–87Magic JohnsonLos Angeles LakersPoint guardUnited States1
1985–86Larry BirdBoston CelticsSmall forwardUnited States3
1984–85Larry BirdBoston CelticsSmall forwardUnited States2
1983–84Larry BirdBoston CelticsSmall forwardUnited States1
1982–83Moses MalonePhiladelphia 76ersCenterUnited States3
1981–82Moses MaloneHouston RocketsCenterUnited States2
1980–81Julius ErvingPhiladelphia 76ersSmall forwardUnited States1
1979–80Kareem Abdul-JabbarLos Angeles LakersCenterUnited States6
1978–79Moses MaloneHouston RocketsCenterUnited States1
1977–78Bill WaltonPortland Trail BlazersCenterUnited States1
1976–77Kareem Abdul-JabbarLos Angeles LakersCenterUnited States5
1975–76Kareem Abdul-JabbarLos Angeles LakersCenterUnited States4
1974–75Bob McAdooBuffalo BravesCenterUnited States1
1973–74Kareem Abdul-JabbarMilwaukee BucksCenterUnited States3
1972–73Dave CowensBoston CelticsCenterUnited States1
1971–72Kareem Abdul-JabbarMilwaukee BucksCenterUnited States2
1970–71Lew AlcindorMilwaukee BucksCenterUnited States1
1969–70Willis ReedNew York KnicksCenterUnited States1
1968–69Wes UnseldBaltimore BulletsCenterUnited States1
1967–68Wilt ChamberlainPhiladelphia 76ersCenterUnited States4
1966–67Wilt ChamberlainPhiladelphia 76ersCenterUnited States3
1965–66Wilt ChamberlainPhiladelphia 76ersCenterUnited States2
1964–65Bill RussellBoston CelticsCenterUnited States5
1963–64Oscar RobertsonCincinnati RoyalsPoint guardUnited States1
1962–63Bill RussellBoston CelticsCenterUnited States4
1961–62Bill RussellBoston CelticsCenterUnited States3
1960–61Bill RussellBoston CelticsCenterUnited States2
1959–60Wilt ChamberlainPhiladelphia WarriorsCenterUnited States1
1958–59Bob PettitSt. Louis HawksPower forwardUnited States2
1957–58Bill RussellBoston CelticsCenterUnited States1
1956–57Bob CousyBoston CelticsPoint guardUnited States1
1955–56Bob PettitSt. Louis HawksPower forwardUnited States1

Every repeat winner

Questions about this award history

Who is the latest Most Valuable Player winner in this archive?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — 2025–26, in the reference checked on 2026-10-09. This archive contains completed award selections, not predictions.
Who has the most Most Valuable Player selections in this history?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6). Counts include official selections from award year 1956 through 2026; tied leaders are all included.
How many seasons does this Most Valuable Player archive cover?
71 award seasons and 71 official selections, from 1956 through 2026. A shared award counts as one season with multiple selections.