# Who is the greatest NBA MVP award winner of all time?

> 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?

*By YPB Team · Published May 17, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-greatest-nba-mvp-award-winner-of-all-time*

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## Current results (0 votes)

1. **Kareem Abdul-Jabbar**
   The 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.
2. **Michael Jordan**
   The iconic Chicago Bulls guard who won five MVP awards while transforming basketball into a global phenomenon and leading his team to six championships.
3. **LeBron James**
   The all-around generational talent who won four MVP trophies across three franchises, redefining what a modern NBA superstar could be.
4. **Bill Russell**
   The Boston Celtics defensive anchor who won five MVP awards while guiding Boston to an unprecedented 11 championships in 13 seasons.
5. **Wilt Chamberlain**
   The 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.
6. **Magic Johnson**
   The Los Angeles Lakers point guard who won three MVP awards and revolutionized the position with his size, vision, and big-game brilliance.
7. **Larry Bird**
   The 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.
8. **Moses Malone**
   A 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.
9. **Nikola Jokić**
   The Serbian center who redefined big-man basketball with elite passing and scoring to win three MVP awards in four seasons for the Denver Nuggets.
10. **Stephen Curry**
   The 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.
11. **Giannis Antetokounmpo**
   The 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.
12. **Shai Gilgeous-Alexander**
   The 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.
13. **Tim Duncan**
   The San Antonio Spurs Fundamental who won two MVP awards as the anchor of a dynasty that won five championships over 19 immaculate seasons.
14. **Steve Nash**
   The two-time MVP Canadian point guard who revolutionized the Phoenix Suns' run-and-gun offense and changed how teams thought about pace and analytics.
15. **Shaquille O'Neal**
   The physically overwhelming Lakers center whose 2000 MVP season stands as one of the most dominant single-year performances in league history.

Tags: sports, basketball, players, nba