The 25 Best MVP Seasons in NBA History

You cannot win the NBA MVP award by accident. Every single player who has won it either is or will be in the Hall of Fame. Over such a brutal, physically demanding 82 game season, the best players are able to fight through the monotony and post incredible numbers that both cement their status as superstars and also lift their teams up to championship levels. To read the list of MVPs is to read a history of the game’s best players: Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell in the 1960s, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 1970s, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in the 1980s, Michael Jordan in the 1990s, and now, with his fourth MVP, LeBron James has to be considered right alongside those other luminaries.

The MVP award has been handed out every year since 1956, and those 58 winners all had tremendous seasons. However, for a variety of reasons, some of those seasons stand out a little bit more than others. We present the 25 Best MVP Seasons in NBA History.

25. Tim Duncan (2003)

Team: San Antonio Spurs
Stats: 81 G, 39.3 MPG, 23.3 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 3.9 APG, 2.9 BPG
Player Efficiency Rating: 26.9

Moreso than his 2002 campaign, Duncan's second consecutive MVP-winning year hit a number of impressive statistical benchmarks. He had fully ascended to the position of Spurs' top player, supplanting fellow Twin Tower David Robinson, and his numbers showed that; Duncan posted career bests in rebounds, assists and blocks to go along with his second-best mark in points per game.

With Robinson playing a reduced role in what was to be his final season, Duncan still easily led the Spurs to 60 wins and a playoff berth. With the MVP (also honored as a member of the All-Defensive First Team) leading the way, the Spurs toppled the Lakers en route to an NBA title.

24. Magic Johnson (1987)

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Stats: 80 G, 36.3 MPG, 23.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 12.2 APG, 1.7 SPG
Player Efficiency Rating: 27

Magic's 1986-87 season was arguably the best all-around year of his career. Not only did he win the MVP award on the strength of a career-best 23.9 points per game and a league best 12.2 assists per game, but his Lakers defeated the rival Celtics in their third NBA Finals matchup in four years.

Johnson was also able to set a career high with 80 games played, helping the Lakers overcome their disappointing end to the previous season and a mid-season injury to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar en route to a championship. For Magic, it would be the first of his three career MVP awards.

23. LeBron James (2010)

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Stats: 76 G, 39.0 MPG, 29.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 8.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.0 BPG
Player Efficiency Rating: 31.1

LeBron's final season in Cleveland was another great one, as he won his second consecutive MVP award thanks to a bump from the previous year in his points and assists per game totals, as well as continued excellence in carrying a less than stellar supporting cast. For the second straight year, the Cavaliers finished with the Eastern Conference's best record (61-21) and looked like a championship contender.

However, with James not at his absolute best, they were unable to get out of the second round and a few short weeks later were on the wrong end of the infamous "Decision."

22. Moses Malone (1982)

Team: Houston Rockets
Stats: 81 G, 42.0 MPG, 31.1 PPG, 14.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.5 BPG
Player Efficiency Rating: 26.8

Malone was an absolute force in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and his final season in Houston was certainly a memorable one as he took home his second MVP award. He finished first in the NBA in rebounding and second in scoring, and also led the league in minutes played as he shouldered a heavy burden on both ends of the floor for an otherwise lackluster Rockets squad.

During his remarkable season, he set personal bests in points in a game (53) and a season (31.1 PPG), and also set a league record for offensive rebounds in a game (21).

21. Bill Russell (1962)

Team: Boston Celtics
Stats: 76 G, 45.2 MPG, 18.9 PPG, 23.6 RPG, 4.5 APG
Player Efficiency Rating: 19.4

How did Bill Russell beat out Wilt Chamberlain's 50 PPG and 25 RPG season and Oscar Robertson's triple-double average to become the 1962 MVP? Well, in addition to his across the board dominance on offense (a career high 18.9 points per game) and on the glass (23.6 per game), Russell was a complete game changer on defense. Although it didn't become a recorded stat until the 1973-74 season, blocks were what made Russell arguably the greatest defender in NBA history.

It's been reported that he would block, on average, at least four shots per game, and would alter countless others. As Russell himself said, the key wasn't to swat everything, but instead "to make your opponent believe that you might block every shot." He did that better than anyone else, leading the Celtics to the 1962 NBA title.

20. Tim Duncan (2002)

Team: San Antonio Spurs
Stats: 82 G, 40.6 MPG, 25.5 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 3.7 APG, 2.5 BPG
Player Efficiency Rating: 27

Duncan's first of consecutive MVP trophies was well-deserved, as the fifth-year forward/center set a career high in points per game (25.5) to go along with his customary league-leading total rebounds. He also managed to lead the league in total field goals and free throws made, with likely the only thing keeping him from a scoring title being his unselfishness (he was 7th in the league in shots attempted). He also anchored a tough Spurs defense that finished third in the NBA in points and fourth in shooting percentage allowed, earning a nod for the All-Defensive First Team and solidifying his MVP status.

19. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1974)

Team: Milwaukee Bucks
Stats: 81 G, 43.8 MPG, 27.0 PPG, 14.5 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.4 SPG, 3.5 BPG
Player Efficiency Rating: 24.4

Kareem's third MVP-winning season was less statistically gaudy than his previous efforts, but thanks to the newly recorded categories of steals and blocks we were able to start understanding his contributions on defense as well. Let's not get it twisted, though; Kareem was still a force on the offensive end of the floor, finishing in the top five in the NBA in points per game (third), rebounding (fourth), and field goal percentage (second) to go along with the league's second-best block total. His Bucks were a force yet again, finishing No. 1 in the NBA in offensive efficiency and No. 2 in defensive efficiency while winning 59 games.

18. Larry Bird (1986)

Team: Boston Celtics
Stats: 82 G, 38.0 MPG, 25.8 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 6.8 APG, 2.0 SPG
Player Efficiency Rating: 25.6

Starring on what many consider to be one of the greatest teams ever, Bird was his usual dominant self in 1986 as he won his third MVP in a row. He was once again a workhorse for the Celtics, logging the second-most minutes in the league while attempting the fourth-most shots. He began to focus more on his three-point shooting, leading the league in threes made and winning that year's inaugural three-point shootout at All-Star weekend. He would lead the Celtics on a dominant run through the playoffs, as they finished 15-3 on their way to the franchise's 16th championship.

17. Bob McAdoo (1975)

Team: Buffalo Braves
Stats: 82 G, 43.2 MPG, 34.5 PPG, 14.1 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 2.1 BPG
Player Efficiency Rating: 25.8

McAdoo had an absolutely brilliant start to his career, winning Rookie of the Year in 1973 and following that up with three consecutive scoring titles. His 1975 MVP award was well deserved, as the big man put up huge numbers for a team that did not feature another star player, yet still managed to win 49 games. McAdoo had to do much of the heavy lifting for his team, leading the NBA in minutes played and finishing in the top five in field goal attempts (second), free throw attempts (first), rebounds (first) and blocks (fifth). McAdoo helped the Braves push the Washington Bullets to the limit in the Eastern Conference Semifinals before falling to the eventual champs in seven games.

16. Wilt Chamberlain (1968)

Team: Philadelphia Warriors
Stats: 82 G, 46.8 MPG, 24.3 PPG, 23.8 RPG, 8.6 APG
Player Efficiency Rating: 24.7

Wilt's final MVP award was a true testament to his greatness. By 1968 everyone knew he could score and rebound at a prolific and efficient rate, and he once again led the league in rebounding and finished fourth in points per game. However, this was the year he took his sharing to a new level, as he also led the NBA in total assists with 702, becoming the first and only center in history to do so. Unfortunately, Wilt's 76ers became the first team in NBA history to blow a 3-1 playoff series lead when they lost to the Celtics in a hotly-contested seven game Eastern Division Finals. In a move still being dissected today, Chamberlain did not even attempt a shot in the second half of Game 7.

15. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1971)

Team: Milwaukee Bucks
Stats: 82 G, 40.1 MPG, 31.7 PPG, 16.0 RPG, 3.3 APG
Player Efficiency Rating: 29

With Bill Russell retired and Wilt Chamberlain aging, Kareem (then-Lew Alcindor) quickly ascended to the top of the NBA center ladder. With the arrival of Oscar Robertson in Milwaukee for the 1970-71 season, the second-year big man led his Bucks team to 66 wins (including 20 in a row at one point) and an NBA title. Abdul-Jabbar won the scoring title by averaging 31.7 points per game and pulling down over 14 rebounds per game, bringing an incredible blend of athleticism to go with absolutely ridiculous size. His great length made a huge impact on the defensive end of the floor as well, although it wouldn't be until a couple years later that his block and steal totals would be recorded.

14. Kevin Garnett (2004)

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Stats: 82 G, 39.4 MPG, 24.2 PPG, 13.9 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.5 SPG, 2.2 BPG
Player Efficiency Rating: 29.4

KG has only managed to win one MVP award in his career, but this 2004 campaign was incredibly impressive given what he did with the decent (but not great) talent surrounding him. He posted some of the best numbers of his career, leading the NBA in total points and rebounds while finishing fourth in minutes played. While it didn't count in his MVP voting, Garnett's playoff performance is one of the amazing individual efforts the league has seen in recent years; averaging nearly 44 minutes per game, he met or exceeded all his season averages as he pushed the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals.

13. Michael Jordan (1991)

Team: Chicago Bulls
Stats: 82 G, 37.0 MPG, 31.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 5.5 APG, 2.7 SPG, 1.0 BPG
Player Efficiency Rating: 31.6

While his own personal numbers weren't as good as some of his other MVP-winning seasons, Jordan still had a fantastic year by any standard. He handily won the scoring title yet again, outpacing second-place finisher Karl Malone by 2.5 points, and continued to play his suffocating defense as he ended up fourth in the NBA in steals per game. Thanks to the emergence of Scottie Pippen, the Bulls made a leap from contender to champion. Behind their two stars they amassed 61 regular season wins (a then-team record), vanquished their rival Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals, then took down Magic Johnson and the Lakers for their first title.

12. Wilt Chamberlain (1966)

Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Stats: 79 G, 47.3 MPG, 33.5 PPG, 24.6 RPG, 5.2 APG
Player Efficiency Rating: 28.3

As was typical for Wilt, he led the league in both points (33.5) and rebounds (24.6) per game and continued to dominate the competition. During one game, he blocked Hall of Famer Gus Johnson's shot so hard that he actually dislocated Johnson's shoulder. Wilt was so good that the 76ers not only allowed him to live in New York during the season, but they in fact moved their practice schedule around so Wilt could sleep late in his NYC loft then report to Philadelphia for a late afternoon shoot around. He even skipped practice before Game 5 of the Finals, then promptly went out and put up 46 points and 34 rebounds in a losing effort.

11. LeBron James (2009)

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Stats: 81 G, 37.7 MPG, 28.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 7.2 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.1 BPG
Player Efficiency Rating: 31.7

LeBron had been a really good, All-Star level player for his first five years in the league. In year six, he made a leap to a level few in the history of basketball have ever reached. Carrying a weak Cavaliers team that had Mo Williams as its second-best player, James posted incredibly strong numbers in pretty much every statistical category. His PER (31.7) matched Michael Jordan's MVP-winning 1988 season and was also named to the All-Defensive First Team. Really the most impressive number of all from James' unbelievable year is 66, as in the number of wins he was somehow able to extract from that subpar Cleveland squad.

10. Larry Bird (1985)

Team: Boston Celtics
Stats: 80 G, 39.5 MPG, 28.7 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.2 BPG
Player Efficiency Rating: 26.5

Larry Legend's MVP-winning 1985 campaign was the Hall of Famer's best all-around season. He set career bests in points and blocks per game, while finishing in the top five league-wide in minutes played, made field goals, made three-pointers, defensive rebounds and points scored. He led the defending champion Celtics to 63 wins and a berth in the Finals, where they would fall to their rivals from Los Angeles. The best encapsulation of Bird's dominance that season is his March game against the Atlanta Hawks where he not only dropped 60 points (a Celtics record that still stands), but was so good and hitting such absurd shots that the guys on the Hawks bench were high-fiving each other by the end of the game.

9. Michael Jordan (1996)

Team: Chicago Bulls
Stats: 82 G, 37.7 MPG, 30.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.3 APG, 2.2 SPG
Player Efficiency Rating: 29.4

Only Michael Jordan could make so much noise with a two word press release. After sending his "I'm back" missive to the world and finishing out the 1995 season, Jordan returned with a vengeance for his first full year back in the NBA. His dogged determination helped carry the Bulls through the slog of an 82 game season, often willing them to victory despite everyone else on his team playing terribly. The result: the best regular season record in NBA history (72-10), another scoring title, a fourth MVP award and the Bulls' fourth NBA title.

8. Wilt Chamberlain (1967)

Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Stats: 81 G, 45.5 MPG, 24.1 PPG, 24.2 RPG, 7.8 APG
Player Efficiency Rating: 26.5

Wilt's second of three consecutive MVPs was one of his most impressive in that he also finally managed to pair his gaudy stats with excellent overall team success. He drastically reduced the number of shots he attempted per game, taking just 14.2 per game when only two years earlier he was taking 33.6 per game and six years earlier was averaging an astonishing 39.5 per night. He showed an impressive ability to facilitate as well, posting the second-highest assist total of his career and leading his 76er team to a then-record 68-13 record. Wilt's .683 shooting percentage was the second-highest in NBA history, bested only by his .727 mark in 1972-73 (when he took about half as many shots per game).

7. Michael Jordan (1992)

Team: Chicago Bulls
Stats: 80 G, 38.8 MPG, 30.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 6.1 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.9 BPG
Player Efficiency Rating: 27.7

After winning his first NBA title in 1991, Jordan followed up that incredible effort with his second consecutive MVP season. He won yet another scoring championship to go along with his usually strong output of rebounds, assists and steals, establishing himself as the league's marquee star and effectively seizing the throne from Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. The Bulls improved as a team as well, setting a new franchise best with 67 wins and winning their second consecutive championship after Jordan (complete with "Shrug Game" heroics) led them past the Trailblazers in six games.

6. Shaquille O'Neal (2000)

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Stats: 79 G, 40.0 MPG, 29.7 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 3.8 APG, 3.0 BPG
Player Efficiency Rating: 30.6

What is so mind-blowing about Shaq's career is that even though he accomplished so much, he very well may not have truly lived up to his potential. Nevertheless, in the 1999-2000 seasons fans got a good look at how truly dominant the Diesel could be when truly committed; he led the league in scoring, field goal percentage and free throw attempts, and also finished second in rebounding and third in blocks. With Shaq posting the 12th-most efficient season in league history (using PER), the Lakers were able to win 67 games and the NBA title.

5. Oscar Robertson (1964)

Team: Cincinnati Royals
Stats: 79 G, 45.1 MPG, 31.4 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 11.0 APG
Player Efficiency Rating: 27.6

While he finished just sort of a triple-double average for the season, Robertson still managed to win the only MVP award of his illustrious career on the strength of a career high in points per game (31.4) and carrying the typically-woeful Royals to a 55-25 record. Robertson set a career best in free throw percentage during this standout campaign as well, and also managed to stand out among his peers by winning his second All-Star game MVP trophy. Unfortunately for the Big O, the individual accolades did little to help his team in the playoffs; after making it to the Finals, they were beaten in five games by the Celtics.

4. LeBron James (2013)

Team: Miami Heat
Stats: 76 G, 37.9 MPG, 26.8 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.9 BPG
Player Efficiency Rating: 31.6

In winning his fourth MVP, LeBron would have been the first ever unanimous choice were it not for one Boston writer. Regardless, 120 out of 121 first place votes isn't bad, and it certainly is indicative of how amazing James was this past year. His ability to both facilitate for his teammates while also getting easy baskets for himself is simply remarkable to watch, and his blend of speed and size makes him easily the most unguardable player in the NBA.

His February streak of becoming the first player in history to score 30 points and shoot 60 percent in six consecutive games, as well as the Heat's remarkable 27-game winning streak, solidify this as a gold standard for seasons in which a player's individual accomplishments lift his team to incredible heights.

3. Wilt Chamberlain (1960)

Team: Philadelphia Warriors
Stats: 72 G, 46.4 MPG, 37.6 PPG, 27.0 RPG, 2.3 APG
Player Efficiency Rating: 28

Wilt had no problem dominating the league during his rookie season en route to collecting his first MVP trophy. Despite his youth, the center put up the second-highest per game rebounding total of his career, and in the process laid the groundwork for rule changes meant specifically to water down his dominance. The 16-foot wide lane and offensive goaltending did not exist until Wilt came in and just started dunking on everybody.

He also is responsible for the rule that free-throw shooters must wait until their shot hits the rim to cross the foul line; to mitigate his poor free-throw shooting, Wilt would take off immediately after releasing the ball and throw down huge put-back dunks before anyone knew what happened.

2. Michael Jordan (1988)

Team: Chicago Bulls
Stats: 82 G, 40.4 MPG, 35.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 5.9 APG, 3.2 SPG, 1.6 BPG
Player Efficiency Rating: 31.7

Michael Jordan's first career MVP award was his most impressive. Carrying a young Bulls squad that still had several years to go before it was championship-ready, Jordan won the scoring title by pouring in 35 points per game and shooting at a .535 clip.

As if his offense weren't enough, he also won Defensive Player of the Year honors thanks to his 1.6 blocks and league-best 3.2 steals per game. The Bulls reached 50 wins and, for the first time in MJ's career, made it out of the first round of the playoffs until they fell to the Pistons, who would impede the Bulls' path to the top for the next several years.

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1972)

Team: Milwaukee Bucks
Stats: 81 G, 44.2 MPG, 34.8 PPG, 16.6 RPG, 4.6 APG
Player Efficiency Rating: 29.9

If Kareem had known that changing his name would result in him putting up even better numbers than his MVP-winning season the year prior, he probably would have done it sooner. Nevertheless, 1972 was an incredibly impressive year for the big man as he more than made up for Oscar Robertson's decline by posting 34.8 points and 16.6 rebounds per game while shooting a ruthlessly efficient 57.4 percent from the field. His defense, again, was a huge asset for the Bucks, as with Kareem anchoring the middle they finished second in the NBA in points allowed and first in opponents' field goal percentage.