Only 7 Point Guards Have Won The MVP Award: Magic Johnson Is The Leader With 3 Awards

The point guards in the NBA these days are required to do a lot on the floor, as teams are focusing on efficient ways of scoring a ton of points and using their point guards to accomplish that. Since they are the players bringing the ball up the floor most of the time and leading the offense as a direct extension of the coach, a great point guard can make your team just as a bad point guard can hurt your team. Of course, we have some of the most spectacular offensive players in the game today including Stephen Curry, Ja Morant, and Luka Doncic playing at MVP levels at the point guard position. For the best point guards, winning scoring titles, assist titles, or even leading a team to strong records year after year comes naturally to them because of how effortlessly they control the game.

Throughout history, we have seen the point guard’s role slightly change as time has gone by, mainly from being a pass-heavy player to a man who can often be the leading scorer on his team. Thanks to the new wave of incredible athletes and skilled players at the point guard spot, some of the best offensive players are often the primary ball-handlers. While point guards are still required to lead the offense, gone are the days when being pass-first is the priority. That still does not take away from a point guard’s role of being an offensive leader and even a vocal presence for a team. That is why some point guards in NBA history have managed to become the best players during individual seasons and actually get the job done as MVPs.

Looking back at the very start of the NBA until the end of the 2022 season, here are the MVP winners at the point guard position. Only a few names will appear more than once, and some other players managed to take their teams to an entirely different level by dominating the court during an 82-game season and running away with the individual awards in tight races. Without further ado, here is every MVP award winner at the point guard spot in NBA history.

1956-57 MVP Award Winner – Bob Cousy

MVP Statistics: 20.6 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 7.5 APG

Bob Cousy was the first-ever point guard to win the MVP award in the 1956-57 season. Cousey managed to win the first of 9 NBA titles in 10 seasons for the Boston Celtics and has some of the greatest resumes in NBA history when looking at team success. Cousy is recognized as one of the best Celtics in history due to his scoring and playmaking ability, and his greatness was certainly captured in the 1957 Finals along with the 1957 season. The Celtics legend was at his peak at age 28.

Cousy was the regular-season MVP with 20.6 PPG and 7.5 APG numbers while guiding the Celtics to the number one seed as one of the best teams in the league. Even if Cousy played in an era where only 8 teams were in the league, he is responsible for kickstarting the next generations of point guards in terms of superstar offensive ability. Remember, Cousy had an incredible resume and his MVP award achievement in 1957 took his Hall of Fame status to another level.

Cousy was known as the “Houdini of the Hardwood” because of his tendency to come up with exciting plays passing the ball. He loved to push the pace, set teammates up, and accumulate a ton of assists. He finished leading the NBA in assists per game during the 1957 MVP season and did it by playing 36.9 MPG. He played 64 games during the season and was the clear leader of a stacked Celtics team that will go down in history. Cousy also won the Finals MVP award at the end of the year by winning his first NBA championship.

1963-64 MVP Award Winner – Oscar Robertson

MVP Statistics: 31.4 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 11.0 APG

Oscar Robertson was the most fabulous stat-sheet stuffer at the point guard position, or at the least the original offensive star before Russell Westbrook came along. Oscar Robertson was the first player to ever average a triple-double in a single season, and he was also one of the greatest ever talents to pick up a basketball. Thanks to his incredible athleticism as a 6’5” point guard, Oscar was capable of attacking the rim and finishing inside against bigger or smaller opponents.

He was quick enough to blow past players and strong enough to finish with contact. Of course, he was exceptional at crashing the boards at a high level while setting up his teammates at a high level. Oscar was a one-of-a-kind athlete, for sure, and that is why he managed to win the MVP award as a member of the Cincinnati Royals at age 25. Oscar led the league in APG and still averaged over 31 PPG. In many ways, the “Big O” made it look so effortless by how graceful he was.

It took 7 years before a point guard would win the MVP award after Bob Cousy, and it was always going to be Oscar Robertson to achieve this. Amazingly, it would take over two decades later until another point guard would win the MVP award. It was going to be hard for another point guard to come close to Oscar’s near triple-double season, but if there was one player who could break the point guard drought, it had to be Earvin “Magic” Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers.

1986-87 MVP Award Winner – Magic Johnson

MVP Statistics: 23.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 12.2 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.5 BPG

Magic Johnson won 3 MVP awards with the Lakers, and each of those seasons was impressive. His first MVP season came in 1987 when he averaged 23.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 12.2 APG while also contributing 1.7 SPG. The point guard played 80 games while leading the Lakers with a 65-17 record that led the NBA. The “Showtime” was on, and Magic was the best player in the league in terms of impact, passing, and leadership.

We knew we were onto something special when the legendary point guard won the championship and Finals MVP award in his rookie season but seeing him win his first MVP award was also impressive. Johnson was so great, that he even usurped “The Captain” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on his own team in terms of being the most impactful star. His scoring was particularly impressive because he started showing signs of a mini hook shot that resembled his teammate Kareem’s sky hook. At his size, Magic could back down in the post as well.

Magic also led the NBA in APG for the 4th time in his career and was dominant when it came to making his teammates better as well. The point guard, at age 27, was exceptional at dominating the game and was playing as a legitimate veteran. It would not take long before Magic would win his second (and third) MVP award, as he was the star of the league during the 1980s alongside Larry Bird for the Boston Celtics.

1988-89 MVP Award Winner – Magic Johnson

MVP Statistics: 22.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 12.8 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG

For the second time in his career, Magic Johnson won the MVP award with the Los Angeles Lakers after guiding his side to a 57-25 record. Johnson poured in 22.5 PPG and 7.9 RPG in the season, once again taking over the league by being the best playmaker and leader on the court. Even if Magic was battling Larry Bird for the title as being the best player in the world in terms of impact and playoff success, the point guard got the edge in 1989 and also in 1990. For basketball fans at the time, the 1980s was carried by Magic and Bird.

Shooting 50.9% from the field and a league-leading 91.1% from the foul line while also chipping in 12.8 APG, no player was as dominant as the legendary point guard during the season. All eyes and all the pressure were on the superstar point guard to make the difference for the Lakers because opponents were geared to stop him. But Johnson did enough to make a difference, posting a near triple-double and also coming up big in countless big games during the season.

Even if the Lakers were considered the favorites at the end of the year, since they finished first in the Western Conference, the team had to get the job done in the playoffs to cap off Magic’s amazing season. They came close when they swept the Portland Trail Blazers, Seattle SuperSonics, and Phoenix Suns en route to the NBA Finals. No doubt about it, Johnson’s leadership with the ball in his hands ultimately made the difference. The legendary point guard could not win his 6th championship, however, as it was the Detroit Pistons’ time, and soon it would be Michael Jordan’s time.

1989-90 MVP Award Winner – Magic Johnson

MVP Statistics: 22.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 11.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG

It is a fact that no point guard won as many MVPs as Magic, and quite frankly, no point guard has come close to the legend’s dominance as a player. The greatest point guard ever, Magic Johnson won his second straight MVP award and his third overall in the 1990 season. The 6’9” point guard was not only the best playmaker in the game but by far the best leader on the court. Magic had a knack for making others around him better, and he did it consistently with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Thanks to Magic’s ability with the ball in his hands, the Lakers finished with the best record in the West with a 63-19 record. As expected, the best player on the best team in the league won the MVP award. Magic finished 2nd in APG behind John Stockton, 18th in scoring, and 17th in steals. The legendary point guard was one of the greatest talents the league had seen and was the architect of the magical “Showtime” Lakers.

Johnson was not able to capitalize on a great season with a championship, but he was still able to win his 3rd MVP award and would not add another title to his 5 rings. Nonetheless, Magic did enough to scrape past Charles Barkley to win his third award. Since Magic, we have not seen a point guard win at least three MVP awards and that alone will place the Lakers legend on Mt. Rushmore.

2004-05 MVP Award Winner – Steve Nash

MVP Statistics: 15.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 11.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.1 BPG

The great Steve Nash put forth splendid performances during the 2005 season, posting monster statistics and leading the Phoenix Suns to a solid 62-20 record which led all teams in the NBA. The point guard was hell-bent on dominating the offensive side of the floor and even managed to lead the NBA in assists per game and almost averaged 50-40-90 shooting splits. He shot 50.2% from the field, 43.1% from three, and 88.7% from the stripe.

Of course, Nash did his job as a playmaker better than anyone else by playing alongside dominant scorers including Amar’e Stoudemire. He averaged 11.5 APG in the season, which ranked first among all players. Steve Nash was literally all over the court, doing everything in his power to create one of the best offenses in recent memory. Under head coach Mike D’Antoni, the Suns became known as a “7 seconds or less” team that got shots up quickly and efficiently. Steve Nash, quite frankly, was at the heart of that and opponents had no answer for the point guard over the majority of the season.

With his 1st MVP in his grasp, Steve Nash firmly entered the race for being one of the top-five greatest players in the game at the time. With Nash’s ability to slice towards the rim and also drain three-pointers with ease, opponents had to play him closely or risk the point guard setting up his teammates. Thanks to Nash’s playmaking, the Suns were the best offensive team in the NBA and also the most exciting squad to follow. No doubt, Nash deserved this MVP award.

2005-06 MVP Award Winner – Steve Nash

MVP Statistics: 18.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 10.5 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.2 BPG

Steve Nash was deserving of the MVP in 2005, leading the Phoenix Suns team to 62 wins and the best record in the entire league. Nash was at his best, orchestrating one of the best offenses we have ever seen. But one year later, Nash was one of the most undeserving MVPs in history. Voters were clearly in love with Steve Nash’s ball-handling, shooting, and passing and that was another reason why he managed to win the MVP over Kobe Bryant.

With zero help on the roster (think Smush Parker and Kwame Brown), Bryant had to carry the Lakers on his back and averaged 35.4 PPG to take one of the worst teams in the league to the postseason. But Nash convinced enough voters that he was the best player in the world yet again by leading the Phoenix Suns to a 54-28 record which was 3rd in the Western Conference. The point guard was absolutely the leader of the team and deserved MVP consideration.

Nash ended up winning his second-straight MVP award regardless, an incredible achievement for a point guard. Steve was an elite shooter, nailing 51.2% from the field, 43.9% from three, and 92.1% from the free-throw line. His shooting percentages, league-leading free-throw percentage, and assist-leading season were enough to give the Canadian star the valuable regular-season award over Kobe Bryant.

2010-11 MVP Award Winner – Derrick Rose

MVP Statistics: 25.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 7.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.6 BPG

Derrick Rose was an absolute monster in his prime and was completely unguardable in his MVP season. He was so special, that he managed to win the MVP over LeBron James, the most dominant player in the game at that time in terms of physicality and status. Rose will go down as one of the greatest what-ifs in NBA history, and his MVP season will forever be etched in fans’ memories. The point guard averaged 25.0 PPG and 7.7 APG for the Bulls, leading the team to the best record in the NBA.

Rose captivated audiences with exceptional athleticism and explosiveness because he was unstoppable at attacking the rim. The point guard was the most athletic player we had ever seen considering he was only 6’2”, and no defender could truly stand in front of him and actually defend him. At only 22 years old, Rose drew constant double-teams and was still able to make everyone around him better. D-Rose showed incredible leadership at such a young age, which made him the youngest MVP winner in NBA history as well.

It would take 4 years before another point guard would win the MVP award, and the Chicago Bulls star certainly set the standard for what to expect as a score-first ball-handler. For the first time since Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls fans believed they had a championship-caliber superstar on their squad and they certainly did in the 2011 season. Had Rose stayed healthy, he would have gone down as one of the best players of all time.

2014-15 MVP Award Winner – Stephen Curry

MVP Statistics: 23.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 7.7 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG

Stephen Curry is the most recent inclusion to a rather short list of point guards who managed to win the MVP award. The legendary point guard took care of business during the regular season, posting 23.8 PPG and 7.7 APG while shooting 48.7% from the field, 44.3% from three, and 91.4% from the free-throw line. Steph played very well during the season, leading his team in scoring in terms of PPG and having one of his most efficient seasons. The point guard would always come through for his side by raining threes whenever the opponents tried to come back from deficits, and also controlled the pace of the game by his presence.

In many ways, the Golden State era started in 2015 because the point guard arrived as the most impressive shooter we had ever seen. The Warriors finished with a 67-15 record which was good for the best in the league, and Curry was the best player on the team. The point guard arrived as a superstar player and elevated the play of others around him under head coach Steve Kerr. His three-point shooting was unprecedented at the time, and Golden State was a scary team to play against on both ends of the floor.

No surprise, Golden State would go on to make the NBA Finals in an exciting showdown against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Curry did not end up winning Finals MVP honors despite being the best player on the team, because Andre Iguodala was the difference-maker in the series. But Steph won the MVP award in the regular season, and he would do it again a year later.

2015-16 MVP Award Winner – Stephen Curry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXwbC1EemF4

MVP Statistics: 30.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 6.7 APG, 2.1 SPG, 0.2 BPG

Stephen Curry was the first-ever unanimous MVP in 2016 by averaging 30.1 PPG and 6.7 APG. Curry led the Warriors to the best record in NBA history with a 73-9 record, and he solidified himself as the best shooter we have ever seen. That means the point guard has two MVP awards to his name, certainly an impressive achievement for a player that stands 6’2” and had a frustrating start to his career in terms of injuries and inconsistent health.

Curry won the unanimous MVP award for being the best player on the greatest team in NBA history (in terms of regular-season record wins) while also averaging 30.1 PPG which led all players. There was no way that Steph wasn’t going to win the award because his scoring was off the charts and his impact was evidenced as the leader of the “Death Lineup” that has ultimately changed the way the NBA is played today. The point guard was particularly efficient, as well, draining 50.4% from the field, 45.4% from three, and 90.8% from the stripe.

Leading the NBA in scoring and free-throw shooting, breaking the all-time wins record as a team, and shooting 50-40-90 from the field were enough to make Curry the unanimous MVP winner. By becoming a two-time MVP for the first time since Steve Nash, Stephen Curry was a point guard of the ages. If only he added another championship at the end of the year, the 2017 season would have been the most perfect. Amazingly, another point guard would manage to win the MVP award just one season later. Stephen Curry’s MVP season in 2016 was an iconic one and Russell Westbrook’s season in 2017 could be just as impressive as a point guard competing at a high level.

2016-17 MVP Award Winner – Russell Westbrook

MVP Statistics: 31.6 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 10.4 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.4 BPG

Russell Westbrook had one of the most incredible MVP campaigns in recent memory. While he is generating a ton of criticism for his inconsistent play the past few seasons, he was an absolute monster in the 2017 campaign. With Kevin Durant departing for greener pastures, Westbrook carried the Oklahoma City Thunder to the postseason single-handedly. Of course, his numbers were off the charts at 31.6 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 10.4 APG, and 1.6 SPG over 78 games played.

Russ averaged a triple-double for the first time since Oscar Robertson and did it in all areas of the floor. The point guard was not only the leading scorer in the NBA but rebounded better than most big men as well. In the 2017 season, Westbrook ranked 3rd in APG and 10th in RPG. When he wasn’t scoring the ball, Westbrook was creating for others and crashing the boards at a superstar level. His athleticism was off the charts and he was considered the most explosive point guard in NBA history, rivaling a prime Derrick Rose in that regard.

That is why his MVP season has to go down as one of the most iconic in recent memory. Not to mention, Westbrook was the last point guard to win the MVP award and it will be hard for any other player at that position to come close to what he did. The narrative of Kevin Durant leaving Russell Westbrook high and dry with the point guard carrying his side to the playoffs while averaging the first triple-double since Oscar Robertson was too strong. To cap off an all-time great season, Russ drained a buzzer-beating three as a game-winner during the final game of the season. For the majority of fans and voters, if there was any doubt, the MVP award winner was decided right there and then. 

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