Prior to 2021, the winner received the Maurice Podoloff Trophy, which was named in honor of the first commissioner (then president)[a] of the NBA, who served from 1946 until 1963. With the switch to the Michael Jordan Trophy, his name was moved to a new Maurice Podoloff Trophy given to the team with the best regular season record.[4] Until the 1979–80 season, the MVP was selected by a vote of NBA players. Since the 1980–81 season, the award is decided by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada.
Each member of the voting panel casts a vote for first to fifth place selections. Each first-place vote is worth 10 points; each second-place vote is worth seven; each third-place vote is worth five, fourth-place is worth three and fifth-place is worth one. Starting from 2010, one ballot was cast by fans through online voting. The player with the highest point total wins the award.[5] As of the 2023–24 season, the current holder of the award is Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets.
Effective with the 2023–24 season, when a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the league and its players' union took effect, players must appear in at least 65 games to be eligible for most regular-season awards and honors, including MVP. To receive credit for a game for purposes of award eligibility, a player must have been credited with at least 20 minutes played. However, two "near misses", in which the player appeared for 15 to 19 minutes, can be included in the 65-game count. Protections also exist for players who suffer season-ending injuries, who are eligible with 62 credited games, and those affected by what the CBA calls "bad faith circumstances".[17][18]
Winners
Bill Russell (left) won the award five times in his NBA career. Wilt Chamberlain (center) won the award four times in his career.Bob Pettit was the first player to win multiple MVP awards.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the award a record-setting six times in his career.Larry Bird was the last player to win the award in three consecutive years.Hakeem Olajuwon is one of three players to win the NBA MVP and the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in the same season.Derrick Rose became the youngest player to ever win the award at age 22.LeBron James is a four-time NBA MVP.Stephen Curry won back-to-back MVP awards in 2014–15 and 2015–16. He is the first unanimous MVP selection in league history.[19]Giannis Antetokounmpo won back-to-back MVP awards in 2018–19 and 2019–20.Nikola Jokić won three MVP awards in 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2023–24. He became one of only two players to be selected in the second round of the NBA draft to win the award.
^The official title of the position was President until 1967 when it was renamed to Commissioner.[3]
^ abHakeem Olajuwon was born in Nigeria, but became a naturalized United States citizen in 1993. He was the first ever international player to win the award.[10]
^ abcAlthough Duncan was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands and is a United States citizen,[11] the NBA considers him an international player.[12]
^ abcSteve Nash, who was born in South Africa, was raised in Canada.[13]
^ abJoel Embiid was born in Cameroon, but became a naturalized United States citizen in 2022.[14]
^Allen Iverson received the only other first-place vote in 2000, while Carmelo Anthony received the only other first-place vote in 2013.[8]
^Except for seasons affected by lockouts and COVID-19, when the schedule was shortened from the norm of 82 games. Karl Malone won in 1998–99 when Utah was 37–13 in 50 games, which projected to 60 wins in 82 games. James won in 2011–12 when the Miami Heat were 46–20 in 66 games, which projected to 57 wins. Nikola Jokić won in 2020–21 when Denver was 47–25 in 72 games, which projected to 54 wins in 82 games.
^McPeek, Jeramie. "The Canadian Kid". NBA.com (from Fastbreak Magazine of Sept./Oct. 1996). Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on May 11, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2009.
^"Article XXIX, Section 6: Games Played Requirement for Certain League Honors"(PDF). NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement. National Basketball Players Association. July 2023. pp. 432–38. Archived(PDF) from the original on September 16, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023. The games played requirement specifically applies to the MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Most Improved Player awards, as well as the All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams.
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