Since the 1955-56 NBA season, the NBA MVP award has been given to the league’s most valuable player. Many players who have picked this prestigious award remain as the all-time greatest player, and some are building their legacy even today.
The MVP was selected by a vote of the very NBA players, however, since the 1980-81 season, the award is decided by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. The first-ever NBA MVP was Bob Pettit who won the award 2 times.
Since then, there have been numerous players to win the prestigious award. And today, we bring you the 5 best NBA MVP players of all time along with their incredible stats.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Career Average: 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, AND 3.6 APG
Let us begin with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who has won the most MVP awards than anyone else in the history of NBA league, a jaw-dropping six times. The former American basketball player played 20 seasons of NBA, first six seasons for Milwaukee Bucks, and later 14 seasons for Los Angeles Lakers.
Kareem made his debut for the Milwaukee Bucks in 1969, and two years later in 1971, he went on to win his first MVP award. Abdul-Jabbar is a basketball magnate and has had a well-decorated career due to his uncanny skill in the game. Besides he has also been recognized as one of the greatest of all time.
Michael Jordan
Career Average: 30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG
There can’t be a greatest players of all time list without Michael Jordan’s name being included in it. Everyone knows how good the 6’6″ guard was, as he led the Chicago Bulls to win six NBA Championships. The greatest of all time has won six Finals MVP awards, five regular-season MVP awards and more.
Jordan’s elegance powered by his notorious attitude took him to the very top of the basketball world, and he is also one of the all-time favorite athletes. Michael Jordan’s brilliance both on and off the basketball court defines a whole generation of basketball and sets a new record for other players following his footsteps.
LeBron James
Career Average: 25.7PPG, 7.9 RPG, 10.6 APG
LeBron James seems to be absolutely unstoppable and is surely one of the best players the NBA has seen in the last decade. James has been running in the footsteps of Michael Jordan his entire career, and many people also believe that he is on the same level as the Bull’s legend.
Standing 6’9” and weighing 250 pounds, LeBron’s game is absolutely built on his power. However, LeBron’s strongest skill is the passing abilities that make him a fine player. LeBron James put four MVP awards under his name in just five seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.
Besides that, LeBron James also has 3 NBA titles and 3 NBA Finals MVP awards under his name.
Larry Bird
Career Average: 24.3 PPG, 10RPG, 6.3 APG
Larry the Legend surely had a short career in basketball, but he surely was able to leave a great mark of him behind. He played his entire career for the Boston Celtics and is regarded as the best player the Boston Celtics have ever had.
Larry Bird was one of the most valuable players for the Celtics and made Boston a serious contender in the 80s. Bird led Boston to five NBA Finals and three championships
with a mixture of his shot accuracy and passing skills. Nicknamed as “The Hick from the French Lick”, Larry went on to winning amazing 3 MVP awards and that too in a row (1984, 1985, and 1986).
Stephen Curry
Career Average: 20.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 6.6 APG
Stephen Curry is beyond any question the greatest shooter, the game has ever produced and seen. The 32-year old player has broken and redefined all the records and perceptions of what it means to be a shot-maker.
Stephen Curry owns three of the top five slots for most 3-pointers in a single season. He still holds the NBA record for most 3 points in a season with 402 points. Curry has 2 NBA MVP awards and 3 NBA championships with Golden State Warriors under his belt.
In 2015, Curry won his first MVP award in which he also led the Golden State Warrior to their first championship victory since 1975.
The Bottom Line
These players have been voted the MVPs more than once and have each left a great mark in the NBA. There have always been discussions and arguments on who is the greatest of all time. But at the end of the day, it is all about respect, and nothing else.
