The Last MVP Award Winner From Every NBA Team

The 2022-23 regular season has come to a close and fans are ready for playoff basketball to get underway. Aside from the obvious excitement surrounding some potential blockbuster playoff matchups, there is another debate still raging just as it does every year. That is, of course, the debate over who will be this year’s MVP. The MVP award is always a source of fun and entertaining conversation just as it has been since the introduction of the award in 1956. Only 22 of the 30 teams in the NBA have ever had a member of their franchise be crowned MVP at the end of any season, and there have been only 15 players in NBA history to win more than one MVP. 

Today, we will look at the most recent time that each NBA team had a player named MVP. For some teams, we will have to go all the way back to when they were located in a different city. For others, only a little time has passed since they had an MVP on the court. We will review each MVP season with a fine lens and break down the last time each team had a true superstar on their roster. However, you can be a superstar and get snubbed for MVP as we have seen more than once.

Now, let’s take a look at the last time every NBA franchise was represented by an MVP.

Atlanta Hawks – Bob Pettit

1958-59 MVP Stats: 29.2 PPG, 16.4 RPG, 3.1 APG

By the time the 1958-59 season came about, Bob Pettit was already one of the best players in Hawks history. Pettit had been named the first MVP of the league in history in 1955-56 and had delivered an NBA championship to St. Louis in 1958 while becoming the only man ever to take down Bill Russell and the Celtics in the Finals. Through four seasons, Pettit had already established himself as one of the best power forwards ever, but there was more to accomplish for the big man from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  

Pettit set out on another MVP campaign in the 1958-59 season by winning the scoring title with 29.2 PPG. It was the second time Pettit won a scoring title in his career, the other coming during his first MVP season in 1956. Pettit would have two 50-point games, six 40-point games, and 30 30-point games during th3 1959 season. Pettit’s best game that season would be a 52-point, 19-rebound performance against Russell and the Celtics in a win. It has been 64 years since a member of the Hawks won an MVP. With rumors of a Trae Young trade being made possible, who could possibly be the next MVP candidate in Hawks history? 

Boston Celtics – Larry Bird

1985-86 MVP Stats: 25.8 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 6.8 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.6 BPG

An NBA player winning three MVP awards in consecutive seasons is something that is almost unheard of. Whether you want to attribute it to voter fatigue or a simple drop-off in production, three consecutive MVPs are hard to come by in NBA history. In 1986, Bird was coming off back-to-back MVP wins in 1984 and 1985, as well as two NBA Finals appearances, an NBA championship, and a Finals MVP in 1984.

Bird’s 1986 campaign would be just as special as his previous two seasons. He recorded 21 games with at least 30 points as well as six games with at least 40. He also had 40 games in which he grabbed at least 10 rebounds and seven games with at least 15 rebounds. As a passer, he had 14 games with at least 10 assists and as a defender, he had 26 games with at least 3 steals, and he had seven games with at least 3 blocks. His all-around play led to 67 wins for Boston and concluded with his third NBA championship as well as his third Finals MVP award.

Brooklyn Nets – No MVP

Charlotte Hornets – No MVP

Chicago Bulls – Derrick Rose

2010-11 MVP Stats: 25.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 7.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.6 BPG

Coming out of Memphis as the number one overall pick of the Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose was supposed to usher in a new and successful era for Bulls basketball. Things started off great for Rose in Chicago as he ran away with the Rookie of the Year award averaging 16.8 PPG and 6.3 APG. In 2010, he earned his first All-Star selection and led the Bulls to a .500 record, averaging 20.8 PPG and 6.0 APG. He saved his best performance for his third season.

Rose took the court in 2011 under new head coach Tom Thibodeau and led them to 62 wins. The most impressive part was Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer each missed significant time with injuries, but Rose didn’t miss a step. He would have 23 30-point games on the season as well as 21 games with at least 10 assists. He also contributed on defense with 2 games of 5 or more steals and eight games with at least 3 steals. He put Chicago on his back and the team back on the map that season, going toe-to-toe with some of the game’s best players as the youngest MVP in NBA history.

Cleveland Cavaliers – LeBron James

2009-10 MVP Stats: 29.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 8.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.0 BPG

In 2010, LeBron James was heading into his seventh season with the Cavaliers after entering the NBA out of high school in 2003. James was coming off his first MVP season in 2008-09 when he led the Cavaliers to 66 wins averaging 28.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 7.2 APG. The tension was thick in 2009-10 as many speculated about James’ future, knowing he would be a free agent at the end of the season and growing increasingly frustrated with not being able to compete for an NBA championship. 

Despite those feelings, things looked good for Cleveland as the season unfolded. James would have a second straight MVP campaign and lead the Cavaliers to a 61-21 record. James would have 38 games with at least 30 points and nine games with at least 40. He would also record 11 games with at least 10 assists and 24 games with at least 10 rebounds. He was a force to be reckoned with on both sides of the court and would lead Cleveland to the second round. After the loss to Boston, James would make his infamous decision to head to Miami and leave Cleveland in shambles.

Dallas Mavericks – Dirk Nowitzki

2006-07 MVP Stats: 24.6 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 3.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.8 BPG

At the time of the 2006-07 season, the Dallas Mavericks had never had a player win MVP while wearing their uniform. Dirk Nowitzki was already flirting with the award as he was leading the mid-2000s Mavericks to great regular season records. However, he had little success in the playoffs and had just blown a lead to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, which, although it shouldn’t, does have an effect on where some of the voters stand on their MVP selection. When 2006-07 was over, Nowitzki left little doubt as to who the award belonged to.

Nowitzki led the Mavericks to 67 wins that season while scoring the ninth-most PPG and giving up the 4th-least PPG. Nowitzki had 19 30-point games during the 2006-07 season and 41 games with at least 10 rebounds. Nowitzki was never much of a passer and wasn’t feared for his defensive play either, but this had to be considered his peak as an all-around player. Unfortunately, his playoff woes continued in 2007 despite his MVP award. The Mavericks would be upset in the first round of the playoffs by the 8-seeded Warriors led by Baron Davis one year after making the NBA Finals.

Denver Nuggets – Nikola Jokic

2021-22 MVP Stats: 27.1 PPG, 13.8 RPG, 7.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.9 BPG

Heading into the 2021-22 season, it was going to be an enormous mountain for Nikola Jokic to climb in order to repeat as MVP after his win in 2021. The Nuggets knew they would be without Jamal Murray for the entirety of the season after he suffered a torn ACL in 2021. Then, just nine games into the season, Michael Porter Jr. went down with a back injury that would take him out for the rest of the season. All of the pressure now sat on Jokic’s shoulders, and he answered the call.

The 2021-22 season would be the one in which Jokic staked his claim to being a top-five player in the NBA. Despite the injuries, Jokic would lead Demver to 48 wins and a playoff berth leading the team as a scorer, passer, and playmaker. Jokic would record 22 games with at least 30 points scored and three 40-point games. He also had 68 games with at least 10 rebounds and four games with 20 rebounds. Where he really took his game to the next level was with his passing as he recorded 20 games with at least 10 assists and two games with 15 assists or more. The season for Denver came to an end early in the second round of the playoffs.

Detroit Pistons – No MVP

Golden State Warriors – Stephen Curry

2015-16 MVP Stats: 30.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 6.7 APG, 2.1 SPG, 0.2 BPG

Back in the mid-2010s, the NBA was at its peak popularity over the last 20 years. The Warriors had just won their first NBA championship since 1975, and a new superstar was emerging and perfecting the art of the three-point shot. Stephen Curry wasn’t supposed to be this dominant as a scorer and shooter, and he certainly wasn’t supposed to be an MVP of the league. After winning MVP and a championship in 2015, the Warriors and Curry decided that wasn’t enough, prompting a historic run the following season.

Led by Curry, the Warriors could hardly be kept up with on the court as they went on to set a new NBA record finishing 73-9 on the season. Curry did this while winning a scoring title and a steals title, as well as averaging over 30.0 PPG on 50/40/90 splits. Curry shot over 45.0% from three on an incredible 11.2 attempts per game and had four games in which he knocked down 10 or more threes. He recorded 40 30-point games and 13 40-point games. The Warriors would run out of gas and be upset in the NBA Finals by LeBron James and the Cavaliers but the historic display set forth by Curry cannot be overlooked by that fact.

Houston Rockets – James Harden

2017-18 Stats: 30.4 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 8.8 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Early on in his career, James Harden was one of the best bench players in the NBA. In his first three seasons with the Thunder, Harden was already a Sixth Man of the Year and had an NBA Finals appearance in 2012. When Oklahoma City decided to trade him to Houston in 2012, it opened him up as a player completely and unleashed one of the best offensive peaks in the last 15 seasons.

In 2017-18, Harden would win the first of three straight scoring titles in his career as he was coming off his first career assists title in 2017. Harden would go on a scoring tear during the 2017-18 season recording four games with at least 50 points and 11 games with at least 40 points. He also had an incredible 26 games with at least 10 assists. Harden would lead Houston to a 65-17 record but eventually fell in the Western Conference Finals to the Warriors.

Indiana Pacers – No MVP

Los Angeles Clippers – Bob McAdoo

1974-75 MVP Stats: 34.5 PPG, 14.1 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 2.1 BPG

The Los Angeles Clippers have not had an MVP in nearly 50 years with Bob McAdoo winning all the way in 1975 when the team was known as the Buffalo Braves. Of course, the Clippers have had their share of players make a run at the award, but none had a season like McAdoo had in 1974-75. McAdoo had just won his first of three straight scoring titles in 1973-74 averaging 30.1 PPG and had been named the Rookie of the Year in 1973. The Braves had not won more than 42 games with McAdoo as their starter but all of that would change in 1975.

McAdoo went on a frenzy in 1975, winning his second scoring title and averaging 34.5 PPG. He would lead the NBA in minutes played at 43.2 minutes per game and play all 82 games as well. McAdoo would record 21 40-point games in 1975 and 58 games with at least 30 points. His rebounding was also among the elite in the NBA at the time, and he registered 12 games with at least 20 rebounds and 35 games with 15 or more. The Braves would fall to the Bullets in the second round of the playoffs despite 37.4 PPG and 13.4 RPG from McAdoo in the series.

Los Angeles Lakers – Kobe Bryant

2007-08 MVP Stats: 28.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG

In the late 2000s, Kobe Bryant was already a three-time NBA champion and one of the greatest Lakers in team history. He could have and probably should have been named an MVP before the 2007-08 season came around but being marred in controversy and a failure to win an NBA championship since Shaquille O’Neal left in 2005 played a role in that not happening. After back-to-back seasons of winning scoring titles and averaging over 31.0 PPG but not winning MVP, things began to change for Bryant and the Lakers in 2008. 

Bryant would have another historic season in 2008, and this time he had the Lakers competing toward the top of the standings. The addition of Pau Gasol didn’t hurt, as the Lakers would advance to three straight NBA Finals from 2008 thru 2010 winning two championships. Bryant’s 2008 season can be broken down like this. He has seven 40-point games and two 50-point games, as well as 36 30-point games. His defense was on another level as well as he recorded 24 games with at least 3 steals and earned All-Defensive First Team honors. Bryant and the Lakers would fall short of their goal in the NBA Finals, but there was no doubt who the best player in the world was at the time.

Memphis Grizzlies – No MVP

Miami Heat – LeBron James

2012-13 MVP Stats: 26.8 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.9 BPG

At the time that LeBron James set out to become just the fourth player in NBA history to win four MVP awards, he was already the NBA’s biggest villain. James had joined the Miami Heat after seven seasons with the Cavaliers. In 2011, the world rejoiced as he and his new superteam fell to the Dallas Mavericks. In 2012, he silenced the critics with an MVP award and his first NBA championship, as well as a Finals MVP award. In 2013, he set out to further his case as one of the best to ever play the game as he hit both his offensive and defensive peak.

The 2013 season marked an interesting one for LeBron. He just missed out on being named the Defensive Player of the Year to Marc Gasol and was named First Team All-Defense. He would lead Miami to another NBA championship and claim another Finals MVP by the season’s end, capping off a historic year. During the regular season, James recorded 26 30-point games, 25 games with at least 10 rebounds, and 15 games with at least 10 assists. The league’s best player had cemented his claim to the throne and would not relinquish it for a very long time.

Milwaukee Bucks – Giannis Antetokounmpo

2019-20 MVP Stats: 29.5 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG

If the MVP were to go to the best basketball player in the NBA, Giannis Antetokounmpo would have the last five MVP awards, including the one being given out in 2022-23. His two-way impact and meteoric rise to the top have been unbelievable to watch unfold. He was named the 2017 Most Improved Player and, by 2019, was winning his first MVP award as the best player in the game. The 2020 season was a weird one for everyone as the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world, but once again, Giannis dominated the competition.

Out of the 73 games officially played, Giannis and the Bucks would win 56 of them, making them one of the top seeds in the Eastern Conference. Giannis would log 37 games with at least 30 points on the season and 56 games with at least 10 rebounds. His defense was once again the best on the interior, and he had 42 games with at least one block on the year. Although their season ended in the playoffs, Giannis proved once again why he should be considered the best player in the NBA, just as he would in 2021 when he led the Bucks to an NBA championship.

Minnesota Timberwolves – Kevin Garnett

2003-04 MVP Stats: 24.2 PPG, 13.9 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.5 SPG, 2.2 BPG

As one of the many successful stars in the NBA that came straight out of high school, Kevin Garnett became the centerpiece of the entire Timberwolves organization. As the franchise’s most beloved player, Garnett broke every franchise record imaginable and led them to their highest heights as a franchise. The only thing stopping Garnett from becoming an NBA champion in Minnesota was their ineptitude in building around him. Garnett had more than one season worthy of an MVP mention, but he was special in 2003-04.

Garnett was a man possessed in 2004, leading Minnesota to 58 wins and a trip to the Western Conference Finals. Garnett did this by dominating both sides of the ball in every facet of the game. He recorded 67 games with at least 20 points and 12 games with at least 30. Where he made his real impact was everywhere else on the court, as he had eight games with 20 or more rebounds and 33 games with at least 15. He also had 16 games with at least 3 steals and 28 games with at least 3 blocks. Although the season ended in heartbreaking fashion, Garnett turned in one of the greatest single seasons by a power forward ever.

New Orleans Pelicans – No MVP

New York Knicks – Willis Reed

1969-70 MVP Stats: 21.7 PPG, 13.9 RPG, 2.0 APG

You have to go back 53 years to find the last MVP in Knicks history, which is an incredible amount of time when you think about it. The last Knicks player to truly be an MVP candidate was Patrick Ewing, and he played at a time when Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan were around. The Knicks were the team to beat as the NBA entered the 1970s, as they proved twice with NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. Those championship teams were led by the likes of Walt Frazier and Dave DeBusschere, as well as the 1969-70 MVP and two-time Finals MVP, Willis Reed. 

Reed was incredible for New York that season, as he recorded 46 games with at least 20 points and 11 games with at least 20 rebounds. Reed’s defense against some of the best big men in league history is not to be ignored which includes his Finals performance against Wilt Chamberlain of the Lakers. Reed became one of the first men to ever win an MVP, championship, and Finals MVP in the same season as the Knicks became the NBA’s top dog.

Oklahoma City Thunder – Russell Westbrook

2016-17 MVP Stats: 31.6 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 10.4 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.4 BPG

Before the 2016-17 season, the last MVP in Thunder franchise history, Kevin Durant, left the team shockingly in the 2016 offseason. Left in the dust were his fans and the man who shared the court with him for years as they chased an NBA championship, Russell Westbrook. The weight of the entire organization fell on his shoulders which prompted many to write off the Thunder as finished citing Westbrook’s inability to lead as one of the reasons. He took that personally.

Westbrook would not only lead the Thunder to the playoffs again that season, but he would make history while doing it. He became the first man since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double for an entire season which won the Thunder 47 games. He recorded a triple-double in 42 of 81 games played and won the second scoring title of his career with 31.6 PPG. It would be the first of four seasons in his career that he averaged a triple-double, but the only one in which he was awarded an MVP for it was in 2016-17.

Orlando Magic – No MVP

Philadelphia 76ers – Allen Iverson

2000-01 MVP Stats: 31.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 4.6 APG, 2.5 SPG, 0.3 BPG

I have a feeling that this one is going to be changing very soon, with Joel Embiid emerging as the MVP favorite toward the season’s end and as leaked MVP ballots are released. For now, the last MVP in Sixers history was Allen Iverson in his remarkable run in 2001, which lit the City of Philadelphia on fire. Iverson was already a scoring champion and one of the most exciting talents in the NBA by the time 2000-01 came about, but he took it to another level this season.

The Sixers were a dangerous team in 2001 as they boasted the MVP, Coach of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year. Iverson was in charge as he took home a steals title and scoring title with 35 30-point games and 36 games with at least 3 steals. Iverson would lead the Sixers all the way to the NBA Finals and was the only team to defeat the Lakers in any game that postseason. Of course, the Sixers fell, and Iverson finished his career ringless, but the magic of his MVP season in 2001 should be celebrated while it still remains the most recent one in Sixers’ history.

Phoenix Suns – Steve Nash

2005-06 MVP Stats: 18.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 10.5 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.2 BPG

There are many who still feel to this day that Steve Nash did not deserve at least one of his MVPs in 2005 and 2006. He won his first award in 2005 while leading the NBA in assists with 11.5 APG but is one of the lowest-scoring MVPs ever with 15.5 PPG. He was at the helm of the most potent offense in basketball that led the NBA with 108.4 PPG and was the fastest-paced team in the league. That has to speak for something when you realize it all started with Nash despite how they fell apart in the NBA playoffs.

As previously mentioned, Nash’s 2006 season wasn’t filled with high-scoring performances. He recorded just five games with 30 points or more and 39 games with at least 20 points. His impact came from his all-time great playmaking, and in 2006, he recorded 45 games with at least 10 assists and 10 games with at least 15 assists. Nash and the Suns would fall in the Western Conference Finals, and Nash would never compete in an NBA Finals in his career.

Portland Trail Blazers – Bill Walton

1977-78 MVP Stats: 18.9 PPG, 13.2 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.5 BPG

The 1977-78 season and the circumstances that came about afterward are why many people say Bill Walton had one of the craziest peaks in NBA history. In 1977, Walton led the Trail Blazers to their first and only NBA championship while winning Finals MVP honors as well. He led the NBA in blocks and rebounds that season, nearly winning an MVP for his performance. He followed it up with an MVP season that came with unfortunate consequences.

Bill Walton would play just 58 games in the 1978 season before going down with a foot injury in the playoffs that would change his career forever. Walton led Portland to a 58-24 record in 1978 with 20 games with at least 15 rebounds and 24 games with at least 3 blocks. Walton’s injury destroyed any chance that the Trail Blazers had of repeating as champions. It would also cost Walton the majority of the next four seasons as he would play 14 games from 1979 thru 1982.

Sacramento Kings – Oscar Robertson

1963-64 MVP Stats: 31.4 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 11.0 APG

With the Kings making the playoffs for the first time in 17 years in 2022-23, it makes a lot of sense why they haven’t had an MVP since 1964. You have to go all the way back to the days of Oscar Robertson in the mid-60s to find the Kings’ last MVP, but when the team was in Cincinnati and they were known as the Royals. Oscar was already one of the best guards in basketball and was the only man to ever average a triple-double for an entire season at this time. He was a true Swiss Army knife for the Royals and constantly had them in playoff contention.

Robertson’s offense was unstoppable in 1964, as he poured in 44 games with at least 30 points and 11 games with at least 40. He also had 39 games with at least 10 rebounds and 52 games with at least 10 assists. The Royals would win 55 games and finish second in the East. They would lose in the Division Finals to the future NBA champions, the Boston Celtics. Robertson would never win an MVP again, but he would add an NBA title in 1971 with the Milwaukee Bucks.

San Antonio Spurs – Tim Duncan

2002-03 MVP Stats: 23.3 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 3.9 APG, 0.7 SPG, 2.9 BPG

When Tim Duncan arrived in San Antonio in 1998, he immediately made the franchise exponentially better on the court. By the end of his second season, the Spurs were NBA champions, and Duncan was well on his way to one of the most legendary careers in NBA history. In 2002, Duncan captured the first MVP of his career but had fallen short when it came to team success. The 2002-03 season would kickstart a dynasty.

The best part of Duncan’s game was the impact he made on defense and on the boards. In 2002-03, Duncan only had 16 games with at least 30 points but had 29 games with at least 15 rebounds as well as seven games with 20 rebounds. His defensive stats were even more astounding. He recorded 48 games with at least 3 blocks and 13 games with 5 or more blocks. Duncan would continue his defensive dominance in the playoffs, where he averaged over 5.0 BPG in the NBA Finals to win his second NBA title and Finals MVP award.

Toronto Raptors – No MVP

Utah Jazz – Karl Malone

1998-99 MVP Stats: 23.8 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.6 BPG

The best teams that the Utah Jazz have ever rolled out on the court came in the 1990s, led by John Stockton and Karl Malone. Stockton is one of the game’s greatest point guards, and Malone is one of its greatest power forwards. Together, they are one of the NBA’s most iconic duos on the court despite falling short of ever winning an NBA championship. By 1999, the Jazz had lost two NBA Finals series to Michael Jordan and the Bulls, while Malone was named MVP in 1997.

In 1999, the NBA would have a lockout-shortened season that saw teams play just 50 games total in the year. Malone would play 49 games for the Jazz and deliver 37 wins and just 13 losses. Malone would have just 10 games with 30 points at the minimum but 21 games with at least 10 rebounds and 37 games with at least 1 steal. Malone and the Jazz would be upset by the Portland Trail Blazers in the second round of the playoffs, and the duo of Malone and Stockton would never get back to the NBA Finals.

Washington Wizards – Wes Unseld

1968-69 MVP Stats: 13.8 PPG, 18.2 RPG, 2.6 APG

The 1968-69 season is still one of the most interesting MVP races in history. Wes Unseld still holds the dubious honor of being an MVP averaging the least amount of PPG in the award’s existence. He was also a rookie at the time he won the award, as he led the Bullets to 57 wins and the league’s best record. They would lose in the first round of the playoffs which makes us think they got the vote wrong as well. Willis Reed, Billy Cunningham, and Elgin Baylor all had legitimate cases to be MVPs that season, and all finished behind Unseld in the voting.

If Unseld’s numbers were so underwhelming, how did he become MVP? His scoring wasn’t the answer, with 17 games of 20 points or more and zero 30-point performances. It has to be a combination of things. His rebounding certainly helped, as he had 33 games with at least 20 rebounds on the season and 59 games with at least 15 rebounds. His defensive ability was not to be understated either, as he had the ability to shut down some of the game’s best bigs. Unseld and the Bullets would finally win an NBA championship in 1978 where coincidentally, Unseld became one of the lowest-scoring Finals MVPs in NBA history. 

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