The AP Most Valuable Player Award is one of the most coveted awards in all of football, so you can only imagine the type of season the best NFL MVPs had. Winning the MVP award is one thing, but have you ever wondered how the MVPs over the years stack up against one another?
The MVP award is distributed by the Associated Press, which hand selects a group of 50 sportswriters, journalists, and analysts that vote on the winner every single year. The award is then handed out at the NFL Honors ceremony, which is held the night before the Super Bowl.
While winning a Super Bowl ring is arguably the ultimate prize in football, winning the MVP award is the highest individual honor a player can receive. It’s a testament to their performance on the field and shows that they go above and beyond to put their team in a position to win.
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Who Are the Best NFL MVPs of All-Time?
The first Associated Press Most Valuable Player Award was handed out in 1957 to a man named Jim Brown. Since then, the award has been handed out 66 times to 48 different players. Nine of those players won the award more than once and only four won it at least three times.
What’s even more incredible is the fact that only five people have won the award back-to-back – including Aaron Rodgers, who achieved that feat this past season when he won his fourth MVP award. Even with that award on his resume, he still doesn’t have the most MVPs of all-time.
In an effort to reminisce about what used to be, we’re going to take a look back at some of the best NFL MVPs of all-time. Ability to win the award multiple times will be prioritized, so those nine players will be found near the bottom of this list. The rest will be decided by performance.
20. Patrick Mahomes – 2018
Patrick Mahomes won the MVP award in 2018 with the Kansas City Chiefs. In what was his first year as a starting quarterback, he led the Chiefs to a 14-2 record and threw for 5,097 yards, 50 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He added 272 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Mahomes is currently entering his sixth season in the league – fifth as starting quarterback for the Chiefs. He has accumulated 18,991 yards, 151 touchdowns, and just 37 touchdowns in his career. He’s a four-time Pro Bowl honoree, Super Bowl winner, and Super Bowl MVP winner.
19. Adrian Peterson – 2012
Adrian Peterson won the MVP award in 2012 with the Minnesota Vikings. It was his sixth year in the league and he had already hit more than 1,000 yards in four of his first five seasons. He finished 2012 with 2,097 yards and 12 touchdowns – just eight yards away from an NFL record.
Peterson is currently a free agent, but has enjoyed an illustrious 15-year career in the NFL. As of today, he has 14,918 rushing yards, 120 rushing touchdowns, 305 receptions, 2,474 receiving yards, and six receiving touchdowns. He’s a seven-time Pro Bowl honoree and four-time All-Pro.
18. O.J. Simpson – 1973
O.J. Simpson won the MVP award in 1973 with the Buffalo Bills. It was his fifth season in the league and he was coming off his first 1,000+ yard season. Simpson finished the 1973 season with 2,003 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns – he averaged 143.1 yards per game.
Simpson is a Hall of Fame running back that spent 11 seasons in the NFL – nine with the Bills and two with the San Francisco 49ers. He finished with 11,236 rushing yards and 61 rushing touchdowns in his career. He was a six-time Pro Bowl honoree and five-time All-Pro player.
17. Walter Payton – 1977
Walter Payton won the MVP award in 1977 with the Chicago Bears. It was his third season in the league and he had just come off his first 1,000+ yard, 10+ touchdown season. He finished the 1977 season with 1,852 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 132.3 yards per game.
Payton is a Hall of Fame running back that spent 13 seasons in the NFL. He finished 10 of those seasons with more than 1,000 yards and five of them with more than 10 touchdowns. He retired with 16,726 rushing yards, 110 rushing touchdowns, and nine Pro Bowl selections.
16. Cam Newton – 2015
Cam Newton won the MVP award in 2015 with the Carolina Panthers. It was his fifth season in the league and he led his team to a 15-1 record – eventually losing in the Super Bowl. He finished the season with 3,837 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions through the air.
Newton also added 636 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns that season. He was quite the dual threat quarterback for a while and currently has 32,382 passing yards, 194 passing touchdowns, 123 interceptions, 5,628 rushing yards, and 75 rushing touchdowns in his career.
15. Shaun Alexander – 2005
Shaun Alexander won the MVP award in 2005 with the Seattle Seahawks. It was his sixth season in the league and he had hit the 1,000-yard mark in each of the past four seasons. He finished the 2005 season with a career-high 1,880 rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns.
Alexander started to decline the following season and was out of the league by 2009, but he will be remembered for his five-year stretch from 2001 to 2005. He finished his career with 9,453 rushing yards, 100 rushing touchdowns, 1,520 receiving yards, and 12 receiving touchdowns.
14. Terrell Davis – 1998
Terrell Davis won the MVP award in 1998 with the Denver Broncos. It was his fourth season in the league and he had hit the 1,000-yard mark in each of his first three seasons. He finished his dominant 1998 season with a career-high 2,008 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns.
Davis is a Hall of Fame running back that only spent seven seasons in the NFL, but he made the most of the time he was given. He finished his illustrious career with 7,607 rushing yards, 60 rushing touchdowns, 169 receptions, 1,280 receiving yards, and five receiving touchdowns.
13. Lawrence Taylor – 1986
Lawrence Taylor won the MVP award in 1986 with the New York Giants. It was his sixth year in the league and while it was his first MVP, he was already a two-time Defensive Player of the Year at that point. He finished the season with a career-high 20.5 sacks in 16 games played.
Taylor is a Hall of Fame linebacker that spent 13 seasons in the NFL – all with the Giants. He was the 1981 Defensive Rookie of the Year and three-time Defensive Player of the Year. LT finished his career with 142.0 sacks, good enough for ninth all-time. He won two Super Bowls.
12. Emmitt Smith – 1993
Emmitt Smith is a Hall of Fame running back that won the MVP award in 1993 with the Dallas Cowboys. It was his fourth season in the league and he was coming off a year that saw him put up 1,713 yards and 18 touchdowns. He finished 1993 with 1,486 yards and nine touchdowns.
Smith went on to tally at least 1,000 yards in each of the next eight seasons, totaling 10 straight seasons altogether. He finished his career with 18,355 rushing yards (most all-time), 164 rushing touchdowns (most all-time), 3,224 receiving yards, and 11 receiving touchdowns.
11. LaDainian Tomlinson – 2006
LaDainian Tomlinson is a Hall of Fame running back that won the MVP award in 2006 with the San Diego Chargers. It was his sixth season in the league and he had at least 1,000 yards in each season. He finished 2006 with 1,815 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns.
Tomlinson broke the single-season record for most rushing touchdowns and added three more touchdowns through the air for a total of 31 touchdowns on the year. He led the league in both rushing yards and touchdowns in 2006 and did the same thing the following year in 2007.
10. Dan Marino – 1984
Dan Marino is a Hall of Fame quarterback that won the MVP award in 1984 with the Miami Dolphins. It was his second season in the league and he led the Dolphins to a 14-2 regular season record. He finished the season with 5,084 yards, 48 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions.
Marino would only win the MVP award once in his legendary 17-year career, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t slinging it. He finished his career with 61,631 yards, 420 touchdowns, and 252 interceptions. He was a nine-time Pro Bowl honoree and three-time All-Pro player in his career.
9. Steve Young – 2 times
Steve Young is a Hall of Fame quarterback that won the MVP award in 1992 and 1994. During the 1992 season, he led the San Francisco 49ers to a 14-2 regular season record. He finished the season 3,465 yards, 25 touchdowns, four rushing touchdowns, and just seven interceptions.
During the 1994 season, when he won his second MVP award, Young led the 49ers to a 13-3 regular season record. He finished the season 3,969 yards, 35 touchdowns, seven rushing touchdowns, and just 10 interceptions. That same season, he won his third Super Bowl.
8. Kurt Warner – 2 times
Kurt Warner is a Hall of Fame quarterback that won the MVP award in 1999 and 2001, despite going undrafted in the 1994 draft and finally making his debut in 1998. He led the St. Louis Rams to a 13-3 record in 1999 and threw for 4,353 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.
Warner won the Super Bowl that year. After a decent 2000 season, Warner came out swinging yet again. He led the Rams to a 14-2 record and threw for 4,830 yards, 36 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions. The Rams made it to the Super Bowl again, but failed to bring home the title.
7. Joe Montana – 2 times
Joe Montana is a Hall of Fame quarterback that won the MVP award in 1989 and 1990 – his 11th and 12th seasons in the NFL. During those two seasons, he led the 49ers to a 25-3 record and threw for 7,465 yards, 52 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions. They also won a Super Bowl.
Montana would go on to win four Super Bowls in his illustrious career and was named the Super Bowl MVP three times. He retired with 40,551 yards, 273 touchdowns, 139 interceptions, and 20 rushing touchdowns. He was an eight-time Pro Bowl honoree and three-time All-Pro player.
6. Johnny Unitas – 3 times
Johnny Unitas is a Hall of Fame quarterback that won the MVP award in 1959, 1964, and 1967. He led the Baltimore Colts to a 9-3 record in 1959 and threw for 2,899 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. He led the team to an NFL Championship that same season.
During the 1964 season, Unitas led the Colts to a 12-2 record and threw for 2,824 yards, 19 touchdowns, and just six interceptions. The 1967 season was just as good, leading the team to an 11-1-2 record and throwing for 3,428 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions.
5. Tom Brady – 3 times
Tom Brady is a future Hall of Fame quarterback that won the MVP award in 2007, 2010, and 2017 – he also won Comeback Player of the Year in 2009. In 2007, he led the Patriots to a 16-0 regular season record and threw for 4,806 yards, 50 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions.
In 2010, Brady led the Patriots to a 14-2 record and threw for 3,900 yards, 36 touchdowns, and four interceptions. In 2017, he led the team to a 13-3 record and threw for 4,577 yards, 32 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He has won a total of seven Super Bowls in his career.
4. Jim Brown – 3 times
Jim Brown is a Hall of Fame running back that won the MVP award in 1957 (rookie season), 1958, and 1965 (final season). He became the first ever MVP award winner in 1957 when he rushed for 942 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie. It was one of his worst seasons.
He followed that up with another MVP award in 1958 when he rushed for 1,527 yards and 17 touchdowns. He continued to dominate the league every year, but didn’t win his next MVP until 1965 when he rushed for 1,544 yards and 17 touchdowns. He retired after the 1965 season.
3. Brett Favre – 3 times
Brett Favre is a Hall of Fame quarterback that won the MVP award in 1995, 1996, and 1997 – the only player to ever win the award three years in a row. During that time, he led the Green Bay Packers to a 37-11 record and threw for 12,179 yards, 112 touchdowns, and 42 picks.
Favre also led the Packers to a Super Bowl win during that three-year span. He would go on to be MVP runner-up twice in 2002 and 2007, was third in MVP voting in 2001, and fourth in MVP voting in 2009. He was an 11-time Pro Bowl honoree and three-time All-Pro player in his career.
2. Aaron Rodgers – 4 times
Aaron Rodgers is a future Hall of Fame quarterback that won the MVP award in 2011, 2014, 2020, and 2021 – he’s the reigning back-to-back MVP winner that’s looking to three-peat in 2022. He has led the Green Bay Packers to at least 12 wins in each of his four MVP seasons.
Rodgers won his first MVP award in 2011, a year after winning his first and only Super Bowl. He threw for 45 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 2011, 38 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2014, 48 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2020, and 37 touchdowns and four interceptions in 2021.
1. Peyton Manning – 5 times
Peyton Manning is a Hall of Fame quarterback that won the MVP award in 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, and 2013. He’s the only player to win MVP with two different teams (Colts and Broncos) and the only player to win back-to-back MVP awards on two different occasions (with the Colts).
Manning led his team to at least 12 wins in each of his five MVP seasons. 2004 was an impressive year that saw him throw for 49 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also had 5,477 yards, 55 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in what was arguably the best season of his career.
Active Players That Could Win an MVP Soon
In a league filled with superstars that impress the world with their spectacular play year-in and year-out, narrowing the MVP field down to one winner is no easy task. There can only be one winner (or two, though rare) and we’re sure to see several new winners in the coming years.
Some players that haven’t won the award before, but could win sometime soon include Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, Christian McCaffrey, Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Russell Wilson, Matthew Stafford, Dak Prescott, Deshaun Watson, Kyler Murray, and Derrick Henry.
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Of course, you never really know who’s going to win the award. Rodgers could win it for the fifth time, Brady could snatch his fourth, might grab his second. That’s what makes the MVP award so interesting and exciting – it can be anyone on any NFL roster, but it’ll only be one in the end.
20 Best NBA MVPs Over the Years
NBA fans get to witness a new superstar named MVP every year, but let’s not forget about some of the incredible season-long performances we’ve seen over the years from some of the best NBA MVPs of all-time. They rewrote history by doing what most thought couldn’t be done.
The MVP award is one of the most coveted individual awards a basketball player can get and while it doesn’t quite compare to the ultimate prize – a championship ring – it’s often the next best thing on most players’ wish list. It’s a true testament to their dedication to the game.
It’s something everyone strives for, but something only one person achieves at year’s end – which is part of what makes the award so special. There’s nothing better than watching the best NBA MVPs hoist that trophy and give that memorable, iconic, and thoughtful MVP speech.
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Who Are the Best NBA MVPs of All-Time?
The National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Award is an annual award given to the league’s best regular season performer. It debuted during the 1955-56 season and winners are given the Maurice Podoloff trophy, named after the NBA’s first commissioner and president.
For the first two decades or so, the award was voted on by the NBA players. Today, there’s a panel of broadcasters and sportswriters that vote on the award – along with the other annual awards handed out by the NBA. The panel has an extremely difficult job to do every year.
The NBA MVP award used to be dominated by big men up until the 1980s, which is when small forwards and point guards started to win the award. Recently, big men have retaken control the past three seasons. With that said, let’s take a look back at some of the best NBA MVPs ever.
(We’re going to prioritize players that won the award multiple times, so they’ll be found at the bottom of the list. The rest of the list will be decided by which MVPs had the best season)
20. Nikola Jokic – 2021
Nikola Jokic is an active center that’s the reigning MVP after winning the award in 2021. He finished the season with 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. He shot 57% from the field, 39% from long range, and 87% from the free throw line.
Jokic is currently playing in his seventh season after being drafted by the Nuggets in the second round of the 2014 draft. He’s the lowest draft pick to ever win an MVP. In 526 games played, he averages 19.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game.
19. Allen Iverson – 2001
Allen Iverson is a Hall of Fame guard that won his first and only MVP award in 2001. He finished the season averaging 31.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 2.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game. He shot 42% from the field, 32% from long range, and 81% from the free throw line.
Iverson spent 14 years in the league after being drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the first overall draft pick in 1996. He’s a four-time scoring champ, three-time steals champ, 11-time All-Star, and seven-time All-NBA player. He averaged 26.7 points per game over his career.
18. Russell Westbrook – 2017
Russell Westbrook is an active point guard that won the MVP award in 2017. He finished the season averaging 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, 10.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game. He shot 43% from the field, 34% from long range, and 85% from the free throw line.
Westbrook is currently playing in his 14th season in the league after being drafted by the Seattle Supersonics with the fourth overall pick in 2008. He currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, though his production has been declining in recent years. Still, he’s an electric player to watch.
17. Derrick Rose – 2011
Derrick Rose is an active point guard that won the MVP award for the first and only time in 2011. He finished the year with 25.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game. He shot 45% from the field, 33% from long range, and 86% from the free throw line.
Rose is currently playing in his 13th season in the league after being drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the first overall pick in 2008. He won the Rookie of the Year award in 2009, but his career has been riddled by injuries since winning the MVP award – though he can still ball.
16. Oscar Robertson – 1964
Oscar Robertson is a Hall of Fame point guard that won the MVP award in 1964. He finished the season averaging 31.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 11.0 assists per game. He only missed three games that season, shooting 48% from the field and 85% from the free throw line.
Robertson spent 14 seasons in the league after being drafted by the Cincinnati Royals with the first overall draft pick in 1960. He won the championship in 1971, was a six-time assists champ, Rookie of the Year, three-time All-Star MVP, and 12-time All-Star honoree during his career.
15. Shaquille O’Neal – 2000
Shaquille O’Neal is a Hall of Fame center that won the MVP award for the first and only time in 2000. He finished the season with 29.7 points, 13.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.5 steals, and 3.0 blocks per game. He shot 57% from the field and just 52% from the free throw line.
O’Neal spent 19 years in the league after being drafted by the Orlando Magic with the first overall draft pick in 1992. He’s a two-time scoring champ, four-time NBA champ, Rookie of the Year, three-time All-Defensive player, 15-time All-Star, and 14-time All-NBA player.
14. Bob Pettit – 2 times
Bob Pettit is a Hall of Fame power forward and center that won the MVP award in 1956 and 1959. He was the NBA’s first winner of the award when he averaged 25.7 points, 16.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. He shot 43% from the field and 74% from the free throw line.
Pettit won the award again in 1959 when he averaged 29.2 points, 16.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. He shot 44% from the field and 76% from the charity stripe. He went on to enjoy an 11-year career that included an NBA championship in 1958 with the St. Louis Hawks.
13. Karl Malone – 2 times
Karl Malone is a Hall of Fame power forward that won the MVP award in 1997 and 1999. His first award in 1997 came when he averaged 27.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game. He shot 55% from the field and 76% from the free throw line.
Malone won the award again in 1999 when he averaged 23.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game. He shot 49% from the field and 79% from the charity stripe. He went on to spend 19 years in the league and was a 14-time All-Star and All-NBA player.
12. Steve Nash – 2 times
Steve Nash is a Hall of Fame point guard and current head coach that won the MVP award in 2005 and 2006. He is one of just four guards to win the award in consecutive seasons. In 2005, he averaged 15.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 11.5 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game.
Nash won the award again the following season when he put up 18.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game. He went on to have an 18-year career in the NBA, leading the league in assists five times. He’s currently the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets.
11. Tim Duncan – 2 times
Speaking of players that won the award in consecutive seasons, Tim Duncan is a Hall of Fame power forward that won the MVP award in 2002 and 2003. His first rendition came when he put up 25.5 points, 12.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.7 steals, 2.5 blocks, and 40.6 minutes per game.
Duncan won the award again the following season when he averaged 23.3 points, 12.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.7 steals, and 2.9 blocks per game. He enjoyed a long and illustrious 19-year career in the NBA that included five championships and three Finals MVP awards.
10. Stephen Curry – 2 times
Let’s keep the streak of back-to-back winners going with Stephen Curry, an active point guard that won the MVP award in 2015 and 2016. He first won it when he averaged 23.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 2.0 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game. He shot 44% from long range.
Curry won the award the following season when he averaged a then-career-high 30.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 2.1 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game. He’s currently playing in his 13th season and is already a three-time champion, two-time scoring champ, and eight-time All-Star.
9. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 2 times
Giannis Antetokounmpo is an active power forward that’s the most recent player to win the MVP award back-to-back – he did so in 2019 and 2020. He first achieved the feat when he put up 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.5 blocks, and 32.8 minutes per game.
Antetokounmpo won the award the following season after averaging 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. He’s currently playing in his ninth season, is the reigning champion, won Finals MVP, and won the Defensive Player of the Year award.
8. Moses Malone – 3 times
Moses Malone is a Hall of Fame center that not only won the award back-to-back, but won it three times in a span of five years – he won in 1979, 1982, and 1983. His first award came after he averaged 24.8 points, 17.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game.
Malone won it again in 1982 and 1983 with two different teams. During those two seasons, he averaged 27.8 points, 15.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game. He enjoyed a 21-year career in the NBA and won the 1983 championship with the 76ers.
7. Magic Johnson – 3 times
Magic Johnson is a Hall of Fame point guard that not only won the award back-to-back, but won it three times in a span of four years – a leg up on Moses Malone. Johnson won MVP in 1987, 1989, and 1990. He likely would’ve won more if his career wasn’t derailed by the HIV illness.
In 1987, Johnson averaged 23.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 12.2 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. He put up 22.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 12.8 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game in 1989 and 22.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 11.5 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game in 1990.
6. Larry Bird – 3 times
Larry Bird is a Hall of Fame forward that is one of just three players to win the MVP award three years in a row – he achieved it in 1984, 1985, and 1986. During that span, he averaged 26.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.9 blocks, and 38.6 minutes per game.
Bird enjoyed an illustrious 13-year career in the NBA after being drafted by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick in 1978. He was the 1980 Rookie of the Year, he won three titles with the Celtics and two Finals MVPs, was a 12-time All-Star, and a three-time All-Defensive player.
5. Wilt Chamberlain – 4 times
Wilt Chamberlain is a Hall of Fame center that won the MVP award four times – including three consecutive years between 1966 and 1968. He first achieved it in 1960 as a rookie when he averaged 37.6 points, 27.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game with the Philadelphia Warriors.
During his three-year reign as MVP, he averaged 27.3 points, 24.2 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game. Of course, that doesn’t include his incredible season when he scored 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds per game. He was a seven-time scoring champ and two-time NBA champion.
4. LeBron James – 4 times
LeBron James is an active five-position player that won the MVP award back-to-back on two different occasions and four times in the span of five years – he won it in 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013. He’s also a four-time Finals MVP, four-time champion, and three-time All-Star MVP.
During the 2009 and 2010 seasons, James averaged 29.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. During the 2012 and 2013 seasons, he averaged 26.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. It was an unstoppable run.
3. Bill Russell – 5 times
Bill Russell is a Hall of Fame center that won the MVP award five times – three consecutive seasons between 1961 and 1963, and then in 1959 and 1965. It was an incredible stretch that was part of a longer run of 11 championships in 13 years – all of which with the Boston Celtics.
During his 13-year career, he averaged 15.1 points, 22.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. During his three-peat of MVP, he averaged 17.5 points, 23.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. He was a 12-time All-Star, four-time rebounding champ, and 11-time All-NBA player.
2. Michael Jordan – 5 times
Michael Jordan is a Hall of Fame shooting guard that won the MVP award five times between 1988 and 1998. During that span, he also won six championships and six Finals MVP awards. This is the run that cemented him as one of the game’s greatest of all-time – it was legendary.
He finished his 15-year career in the NBA with 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. He was a 14-time All-Star, 10-time scoring champ, three-time steals champ, 1985 Rookie of the Year, nine-time All-Defensive, and 1988 Defensive Player of the Year.
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 6 times
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a Hall of Fame center that won the MVP award a record six times between 1971 and 1980. During that span, he averaged 28.2 points, 14.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 3.5 blocks per game. He shot 56% from the field and 72% from the charity stripe.
Abdul-Jabbar enjoyed an illustrious 20-year career in the NBA that included six championships, 19 All-Star selections, two Finals MVP awards, and a Rookie of the Year award. He was a two-time scoring champ, four-time blocks champ, and one-time rebounds champ in his career.
Which Active Players Might Win an MVP Soon?
Isn’t it crazy to think that while the NBA MVP award has been handed out 66 times since 1955, only 35 players have won the award. In fact, the 14 players that have won the award more than once have combined for 45 of the 66 awards. It goes to show how dominant some players are.
Despite how competitive it can be, there are a few players in today’s game that could join that coveted list soon. Some names to keep an eye on include Ja Morant, Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid, Devin Booker, Jason Taytum, Jimmy Butler, DeMar DeRozan, and Zach LaVine.
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You never really know who’s going to explode onto the scene and in a league with so many superstars, there’s often a lot of controversy over who deserves the award. Nonetheless, one player will emerge victorious and they’ll get to write their name among some of the greatest.
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