National Basketball Association

NBA MVPs: Complete list of award winners by year

Updated May. 6, 2025 10:07 a.m. ET

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 year, the three finalists are below:

2024-25 NBA MVP Finalists

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Nikola Jokić
Giannis Antetokounmpo

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

NBA MVPs

2023-24: Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets)
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)

Nikola Jokić wins 3rd NBA MVP award in 4 seasons | Undisputed

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: