When Is NBA MVP Announced? Plus 11 Other Interesting Facts
Many sports fans may ask themselves “When is NBA MVP announced?” not knowing the official date or format for announcing one of the most prestigious awards in professional sports. The official time of the NBA award’s announcement has varied significantly over the years, as has the method for deciding the award itself. The following article will cover many facets surrounding the NBA MVP award, including when it is announced, how the winner is determined, past winners, and interesting facts about the award.
When is the NBA MVP Announced?
The 2023 MVP announcement date is set for May 2, 2023. Historically, the NBA announces the MVP award in May, during the early rounds of the playoffs. The commissioner typically presents the award to the individual before a home playoff game. Their team would usually still be competing in the playoffs.
For a brief 3-year period from 2017-2019, the NBA MVP announcement was delayed until late June to accommodate the newly established NBA awards ceremony where the winner was announced. When the NBA awards show was discontinued due to COVID, the MVP was moved to September in 2020, June in 2021, and May in 2022. If the awards show remains permanently discontinued, the NBA MVP will probably resume its traditional early May announcement schedule.
1. What is the NBA MVP Award?
MVP in basketball terms is an acronym for “most valuable player”. The NBA Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) is given to the player who is deemed to have the most successful individual season. It is widely considered to be the most prestigious award in the basketball world.
The award has been presented since the 1955-1956 season. Recipients are given the the Michael Jordan trophy (formerly the Maurice Podoloff trophy). Before being renamed after the greatest NBA player of all time, the trophy was originally named in honor of the first commissioner of the NBA who served from 1946 to 1963.
2. How is the NBA MVP Decided?
The NBA MVP award is decided by a vote from a panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Each panelist ranks their top-5 MVP selections.
The 1st place player receives 10 points. Second place receives 7 points. Third place receives 5 points. Fourth place receives 3 points and the 5th place player receives 1 point. The player who receives the most total points is awarded MVP.
An additional fan ballot was added to the panel of voters in 2010. The results of the ballot are decided by online voting. It is important to note that the current method of selecting the MVP has been in operation since the 1980-1981 season. From the 1955-1956 to 1979-1980 seasons, players would exclusively vote to decide the award recipient.
After a widely competitive NBA MVP race that saw 3 main combatants, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, vying for the top honor in the league, Nikola Jokic won the 2021-2022 NBA MVP award. Other top NBA MVP finalists included Devin Booker, who received 216 points, and Luka Doncic, who received 146 points. No other finalist received more than 43 points by the end of the voting process.
3. NBA MVP List By Year
2022-23: JOEL EMBIID
2021-22: NIKOLA JOKIĆ
2020-21: NIKOLA JOKIĆ
2019-20: GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO
2018-19: GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO
2017-18: JAMES HARDEN
2016-17: RUSSELL WESTBROOK
2015-16: STEPHEN CURRY
2014-15: STEPHEN CURRY
2013-14: KEVIN DURANT
2012-13: LEBRON JAMES
2011-12: LEBRON JAMES
2010-11: DERRICK ROSE
2009-10: LEBRON JAMES
2008-09: LEBRON JAMES
2007-08: KOBE BRYANT
2006-07: DIRK NOWITZKI
2005-06: STEVE NASH
2004-05: STEVE NASH
2003-04: KEVIN GARNETT
2002-03: TIM DUNCAN
2001-02: TIM DUNCAN
2000-01: ALLEN IVERSON
1999-00: SHAQUILLE O’NEAL
1998-99: KARL MALONE
1997-98: MICHAEL JORDAN
1996-97: KARL MALONE
1995-96: MICHAEL JORDAN
1994-95: DAVID ROBINSON
1993-94: HAKEEM OLAJUWON
1992-93: CHARLES BARKLEY
1991-92: MICHAEL JORDAN
1990-91: MICHAEL JORDAN
1989-90: MAGIC JOHNSON
1988-89: MAGIC JOHNSON
1987-88: MICHAEL JORDAN
1986-87: MAGIC JOHNSON
1985-86: LARRY BIRD
1984-85: LARRY BIRD
1983-84: LARRY BIRD
1982-83: MOSES MALONE
1981-82: MOSES MALONE
1980-81: JULIUS ERVING
1979-80: KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR
1978-79: MOSES MALONE
1977-78: BILL WALTON
1976-77: KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR
1975-76: KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR
1974-75: BOB MCADOO
1973-74: KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR
1972-73: DAVE COWENS
1971-72: KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR
1970-71: KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR
1969-70: WILLIS REED
1968-69: WES UNSELD
1967-68: WILT CHAMBERLAIN
1966-67: WILT CHAMBERLAIN
1965-66: WILT CHAMBERLAIN
1964-65: BILL RUSSELL
1963-64: OSCAR ROBERTSON
1962-63: BILL RUSSELL
1961-62: BILL RUSSELL
1960-61: BILL RUSSELL
1959-60: WILT CHAMBERLAIN
1958-59: BOB PETTIT
1957-58: BILL RUSSELL
1956-57: BOB COUSY
1955-56: BOB PETTIT
The interesting facts of frequently asked questions
4. How many NBA players have won 3 MVPs in a row?
Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Larry Bird are the only 3 players in NBA history to win the MVP award 3 years in a row.
5. Who won MVP as a rookie NBA?
2 NBA rookies have won the MVP, Wilt Chamberlain and Wes Unseld.
6. Who has the most MVPs?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has won the most MVP awards with 6 in 10 years from the 1970-1971 to 1979-1980 seasons.
7. Who won 9 MVP awards?
No player in NBA history has won 9 MVP awards. If you add both regular-season MVPs and NBA Finals MVPs, Michael Jordan has 11, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has 8, Lebron James has 8, and Magic Johnson has 6.
8. Who is the oldest MVP in NBA history?
The oldest MVP in NBA history is Karl Malone. He was 35 years old when he received the award for the 1998-1999 season.
9. Who is the youngest MVP in NBA history?
The youngest MVP in NBA history was Derrick Rose who was 22 years old when he received the award for the 2010-2011 season.
10. What does the NBA MVP get for winning?
All NBA MVP winners receive the Michael Jordan trophy (formerly the Maurice Podoloff trophy). There is typically no other prize money or rewards presented with the award itself. However, players that win an NBA MVP award automatically become eligible for a super-max contract, also known as the Designated Veteran Player Exception.
This type of contract allows a player to sign a 5-year contract worth 35% of a team’s total salary, with an 8% increase in salary each season.
11. What position has won the most MVPs?
The center position has the most MVP winners with 27 total wins. Thats more than double the 2nd most awarded position. The least awarded position is shooting guard, which has won the award only 8 times.
The Most Prestigious Individual Basketball Award In The World
The NBA MVP award is the most prestigious individual basketball award in the world. It has been won by 35 players in league history. Winning this award all but guarantees a player’s enshrinement in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and has huge contractual benefits.
Although sports fans may ask themselves “When is the NBA MVP announced?” because of the great variance in announcement times over the years, the league will most likely resume its traditional early May reveal if the NBA awards show remains canceled.
