National Basketball Association

NBA MVPs: Complete list of award winners by year

Updated Apr. 16, 2024 1:02 p.m. ET

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While the NBA dates its history back to 1946, the NBA MVP has only been awarded since the 1955-56 season. During the 2022-23 season, the NBA renamed the award after Michael Jordan. 

This season, Nikola Jokić is heavily favored to win his third MVP title.

Check out the complete list of NBA MVP winners including their team below:

NBA MVPs

• 2022–23: Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
• 2021–22: Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets)
• 2020–21: Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets)
• 2019–20: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
• 2018–19: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
• 2017–18: James Harden (Houston Rockets)
• 2016–17: Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)
• 2015–16: Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
• 2014–15 : Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
• 2013–14: Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder)
• 2012–13 : LeBron James (Miami Heat)
• 2011–12 : LeBron James (Miami Heat)
• 2010–11: Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls)
• 2009–10: LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)
• 2008–09: LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)
• 2007–08: Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
• 2006–07: Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks)
• 2005–06: Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns)
• 2004–05: Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns)
• 2003–04: Kevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves)
• 2002–03 : Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)
• 2001–02: Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)
• 2000–01: Allen Iverson (Philadelphia 76ers)
• 1999–00 : Shaquille O'Neal (Los Angeles Lakers)
• 1998–99: Karl Malone (Utah Jazz)
• 1997–98 : Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
• 1996–97: Karl Malone (Utah Jazz)
• 1995–96 : Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
• 1994–95: David Robinson (San Antonio Spurs)
• 1993–94 : Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets)
• 1992–93: Charles Barkley (Phoenix Suns)
• 1991–92 : Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
• 1990–91 : Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
• 1989–90: Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers)
• 1988–89: Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers)
• 1987–88: Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
• 1986–87 : Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers)
• 1985–86 : Larry Bird (Boston Celtics)
• 1984–85: Larry Bird (Boston Celtics)
• 1983–84 : Larry Bird (Boston Celtics)
• 1982–83 : Moses Malone (Philadelphia 76ers)
• 1981–82: Moses Malone (Houston Rockets)
• 1980–81: Julius Erving (Philadelphia 76ers)
• 1979–80 : Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Los Angeles Lakers)
• 1978–79: Moses Malone (Houston Rockets)
• 1977–78: Bill Walton (Portland Trail Blazers)
• 1976–77: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Los Angeles Lakers)
• 1975–76: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Los Angeles Lakers)
• 1974–75: Bob McAdoo (Buffalo Braves)
• 1973–74: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Milwaukee Bucks)
• 1972–73: Dave Cowens (Boston Celtics)
• 1971–72: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Milwaukee Bucks)
• 1970–71 : Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Milwaukee Bucks)
• 1969–70 : Willis Reed (New York Knicks)
• 1968–69: Wes Unseld (Baltimore Bullets)
• 1967–68: Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia 76ers)
• 1966–67 : Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia 76ers)
• 1965–66: Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia 76ers)
• 1964–65 : Bill Russell (Boston Celtics)
• 1963–64: Oscar Robertson (Cincinnati Royals)
• 1962–63 : Bill Russell (Boston Celtics)
• 1961–62 : Bill Russell (Boston Celtics)
• 1960–61 : Bill Russell (Boston Celtics)
• 1959–60: Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors)
• 1958–59: Bob Pettit (St. Louis Hawks)
• 1957–58: Bill Russell (Boston Celtics)
• 1956–57 : Bob Cousy (Boston Celtics)
• 1955–56: Bob Pettit (St. Louis Hawks)

Who has the most NBA MVPs?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has won the most NBA MVP awards with six. Michael Jordan and Bill Russell are just behind him with five wins a piece. Below is a list of all the players with multiple MVP awards:

• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 6
• Bill Russell - 5
• Michael Jordan - 5
• LeBron James - 4
• Wilt Chamberlain - 4
• Larry Bird - 3
• Magic Johnson - 3
• Moses Malone - 3
• Bob Pettit - 2
• Giannis Antetokounmpo - 2
• Karl Malone - 2
• Nikola Jokić - 2
• Steve Nash - 2
• Stephen Curry - 2
• Tim Duncan - 2

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