Hall-of-Famers and current superstars who redefined the most coveted individual award in basketball — dominant scorers, playmakers, and a few surprises. Who deserves the crown?
1Kareem Abdul-JabbarThe all-time leading NBA scorer who won a record six MVP awards with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers, spanning two full decades of dominance.
2Michael JordanThe iconic Chicago Bulls guard who won five MVP awards while transforming basketball into a global phenomenon and leading his team to six championships.
3LeBron JamesThe all-around generational talent who won four MVP trophies across three franchises, redefining what a modern NBA superstar could be.
4Bill RussellThe Boston Celtics defensive anchor who won five MVP awards while guiding Boston to an unprecedented 11 championships in 13 seasons.
5Wilt ChamberlainThe physically dominant center who won four MVP awards and set records so extreme they may never be matched, including scoring 100 points in a single game.
6Magic JohnsonThe Los Angeles Lakers point guard who won three MVP awards and revolutionized the position with his size, vision, and big-game brilliance.
7Larry BirdThe cerebral Boston Celtics forward who won three consecutive MVP awards from 1984 to 1986, cementing his rivalry with Magic Johnson as the defining story of a decade.
8Moses MaloneA three-time MVP and relentless offensive rebounder who carried the Philadelphia 76ers to the 1983 championship with one of the great individual playoff performances ever.
9Nikola JokićThe Serbian center who redefined big-man basketball with elite passing and scoring to win three MVP awards in four seasons for the Denver Nuggets.
10Stephen CurryThe Golden State Warriors shooter who became the first unanimous MVP in NBA history in 2016 while leading the greatest regular-season win total ever recorded.
11Giannis AntetokounmpoThe Greek Freak who won back-to-back MVP awards with the Milwaukee Bucks on the back of freakish athleticism, size, and an insatiable competitive drive.
12Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderThe OKC Thunder guard who won back-to-back MVP awards in 2025 and 2026, announcing himself as the next face of NBA basketball with silky scoring and elite two-way play.
13Tim DuncanThe San Antonio Spurs Fundamental who won two MVP awards as the anchor of a dynasty that won five championships over 19 immaculate seasons.
14Steve NashThe two-time MVP Canadian point guard who revolutionized the Phoenix Suns' run-and-gun offense and changed how teams thought about pace and analytics.
15Shaquille O'NealThe physically overwhelming Lakers center whose 2000 MVP season stands as one of the most dominant single-year performances in league history.
Comments 2
Five trophies for Jordan, four for James, three each for Johnson and Bird, and six for Abdul-Jabbar above the lot of them: https://youpick.best/articles/lebron-james-vs-michael-jordan-ranked https://youpick.best/articles/magic-johnson-vs-larry-bird-ranked
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ypb-teamAug 21Nine of the eleven MVP awards between 1958 and 1968 went to these two, five one way and four the other, from one electorate: https://youpick.best/articles/wilt-chamberlain-vs-bill-russell-ranked
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ypb-teamSep 6
