Two of the most critical individual accolades a player can win are the Most Valuable Player award and the Defensive Player of the Year award. Since only one player is chosen for each award, there is steep competition for being the MVP and the DPOY of your team all season. Not to mention, the NBA is a league full of superstar players who all probably deserve the MVP over the course of 82 games based on value, impact, and individual stats. At the same time, the DPOY award is given to the most impactful and dominant defensive player based on stats and all-around impact on defense.
Specifically, it is very rare that a dominant two-way player finished in the top-5 in MVP voting and DPOY voting in the same year. We have witnessed some incredible MVP seasons, including record-breaking circumstances and production where finishing in the top-3 multiple times was the primary criterion. The best way for players to get the best probability on their side to win chips is by finishing among the top three in an MVP race. Meanwhile, getting in the race for the DPOY award is also extremely difficult in any individual season because there is often steep competition from players who lead the league in BPG, SPG, or have impactful presences in the paint or the perimeter.
Amazingly, there are some iconic legends who managed to finish among the top five in MVP and DPOY voting finishes a multitude of times. This signals not only elite superstar talent to be among the best players in a season time and time again, but it might also signal which players rank among the greatest two-way players ever. Respect must be given to two-way players because competing on both ends of the court involves physical and mental fortitude that is absolutely necessary for team success. We have often seen players who focus on either end, but the below players had multiple seasons finishing in the top-3 in MVP and DPOY races over multiple seasons. Let’s find out which historically great players managed multiple top-five MVP and DPOY finishes.
10. Kobe Bryant – 2 Seasons
2001-02 NBA Season (5th in MVP Race, 3rd in DPOY Race)
2007-08 NBA Season (1st in MVP Race, 5th in DPOY Race)
Kobe Bryant was an unstoppable offensive player, but he quietly will go down as one of the greatest defensive players of all time. Kobe didn’t do anything too flashy on defense, but he loved guarding the opposing team’s best player and was a great off-ball defender. That is why The Black Mamba ended up finishing in the top-5 of DPOY voting on two occasions, the first coming when the shooting guard was only 23 years old in the 2001-02 season and the second in his MVP season in 2007-08.
Kobe was a master of playing passing lanes and knowing where the defense would set up on offense. There is a reason why he made a total of 12 All-Defensive teams throughout his career, and while he never managed to capture the DPOY Award, there haven’t been many better defenders than him at the guard spot. It is likely that only Michael Jordan who was an all-time great scorer played better on-ball defense than Kobe Bryant.
9. Alonzo Mourning – 2 Seasons
1998-99 NBA Season (2nd in MVP Race, 1st in DPOY Race)
1999-00 NBA Season (3rd in MVP Race, 1st in DPOY Race)
Alonzo Mourning is one of the game’s most dominant paint protectors. Even if he was an effective scorer in his prime, his defensive ability never truly left him as he was able to use his defensive skills to help the Miami Heat win an NBA title in the 2005-06 season. However, his true impact on defense came when the dominant center was younger.
Mourning was a true defensive specialist in his prime as well, winning the DPOY award two straight times as a member of the Miami Heat. An elite shot-blocker, Alonzo finished with averages of 3.9 BPG and 3.7 BPG, respectively, during both of those seasons. Interestingly, many might not even realize how good Alonzo was offensively as well, which is why he finished second in MVP voting during the 1998-99 season to superstar power forward Tim Duncan. When discussing the game’s greatest paint protectors, Alonzo Mourning’s name should come up more often.
8. Kevin Garnett – 3 Seasons
2000-01 NBA Season (5th in MVP Race, 2nd in DPOY Race)
2002-03 NBA Season (2nd in MVP Race, 3rd in DPOY Race)
2007-08 NBA Season (3rd in MVP Race, 1st in DPOY Race)
It took Kevin Garnett’s third time finishing in the top-5 in both MVP and DPOY voting to win his first and only Defensive Player of the Year trophy. His dominance during the 2007-08 season was evident as he spearheaded an elite Boston Celtics defense that ranked 1st in defense and led the league with 66 wins. There was no debate that Garnett was the best defender that year, and he deserved his trophy.
However, many fail to forget that The Big Ticket was also a dominant defender in his early years with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Garnett could defend one-on-one and also assist with team defense because he was the greatest player in Timberwolves’ history, as he even won league MVP by carrying a relatively weak team to the best record in the West.
7. Dwight Howard – 3 Seasons
2008-09 NBA Season (4th in MVP Race, 1st in DPOY Race)
2009-10 NBA Season (4th in MVP Race, 1st in DPOY Race)
2010-11 NBA Season (2nd in MVP Race, 1st in DPOY Race)
Dwight Howard was an absolute superstar during his peak years between 2008-09 and 2010-11 with the Orlando Magic. One of the most underrated stars in the modern era, Dwight Howard was a force in the paint for the majority of the late 2000s and early 2010s. An elite shot-blocker and hungry rim protector, Dwight won three Defensive Player of the Year Awards and was easily the best big man and all-around defensive player in the league.
Despite having massive shoulders and weighing in at a heavy 265 lbs, Howard was an explosive athlete at 6’10”. He was one difficult player to score against when he played for the Magic because he could leap and swat shots away while also defending the pick-n-roll very well. Howard came closest to winning the MVP award in the 2010-11 season, although he lost out to superstar point guard Derrick Rose and finished above LeBron James that year.
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 3 Seasons
2018-19 NBA Season (1st in MVP Race, 2nd in DPOY Race)
2019-20 NBA Season (1st in MVP Race, 1st in DPOY Race)
2020-21 NBA Season (4th in MVP Race, 5th in DPOY Race)
The Greek Freak might already be one of the greatest two-way players of all time because he has taken his physical gifts, which include 7-feet height and unprecedented length, and added basketball IQ. Giannis won back-to-back MVPs in 2019 and 2020 with the Milwaukee Bucks and also captured the DPOY award in the latter season also.
It is very likely that Giannis cracks the top-5 list in both categories in 2023 as well, which would take his grand total to four seasons achieving that. Over his career so far, Giannis is averaging 1.1 SPG and 1.3 BPG as a player who can defend guards, forwards, and modern NBA centers. It would have been very interesting to see Antetokounmpo battle opposing forwards from past eras because he has the build and athleticism to handle it.
5. David Robinson – 5 Seasons
1990-91 NBA Season (3rd in MVP Race, 2nd in DPOY Race)
1991-92 NBA Season (3rd in MVP Race, 1st in DPOY Race)
1993-94 NBA Season (2nd in MVP Race, 2nd in DPOY Race)
1994-95 NBA Season (1st in MVP Race, 4th in DPOY Race)
1995-96 NBA Season (2nd in MVP Race, 4th in DPOY Race)
The Admiral, David Robinson, won the Defensive Player of the Year for the Spurs in the 1991-92 season, averaging 4.5 BPG and 2.3 SPG while adding 12.2 RPG. He also finished second in DPOY twice, the first time to Dennis Rodman in 1991 and the second time to Hakeem Olajuwon in 1994. Thanks to his incredible size at 7’1” and 235 lbs and also his defensive leadership, very few players could match Robinson on defense.
That is why David Robinson is regarded as one of the top 30 players ever because he got it done on both ends year after year. The Spurs are known for their desire to be a franchise built on tough defensive play, and Robinson was the epitome of that over his 14-year career with the franchise. Robinson was not the last Spur to win the award, as Kawhi Leonard would continue the Spurs’ tradition.
4. Hakeem Olajuwon – 5 Seasons
1988-89 NBA Season (5th in MVP Race, 2nd in DPOY Race)
1992-93 NBA Season (2nd in MVP Race, 1st in DPOY Race)
1993-94 NBA Season (1st in MVP Race, 1st in DPOY Race)
1994-95 NBA Season (5th in MVP Race, 3rd in DPOY Race)
1995-96 NBA Season (4th in MVP Race, 5th in DPOY Race)
One of the greatest two-way centers of all time, Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon, was a unique talent. He was a force on offense, revolutionizing what it means to have strong footwork in the post. But his defensive prowess was arguably just as great, as he won two straight Defensive Player of the Year Awards, with his second one coming in his MVP season. Of course, Hakeem added a Finals MVP in the same season in 1994.
Olajuwon was mainly effective on defense through his elite basketball IQ because he had every offensive move in the post, so it was easy for him to read the opponent. Of course, he was also a spectacular shot-blocker as he ranks 1st all-time in total career blocks. Therefore, it is no surprise to see the Houston Rockets legend finish his career with five total seasons finishing top-5 in MVP and DPOY rankings.
3. LeBron James – 5 Seasons
2008-09 NBA Season (1st in MVP Race, 2nd in DPOY Race)
2009-10 NBA Season (1st in MVP Race,4th in DPOY Race)
2011-12 NBA Season (1st in MVP Race, 4th in DPOY Race)
2012-13 NBA Season (1st in MVP Race, 2nd in DPOY Race)
2016-17 NBA Season (4th in MVP Race, 5th in DPOY Race)
LeBron James is being somewhat criticized for his poor defense in his latter years, but he was an elite defender in his prime with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat. Standing 6’9” and weighing 250 lbs, The King dominated the floor year after year on both ends, which is why he had five seasons finishing in the top five in MVP and DPOY rankings. James never won the DPOY award, although the closest he got was in 2013 when Marc Gasol took home the trophy.
LeBron famously won four MVP awards in his career, twice finishing second in DPOY during two of those seasons, in 2009 and 2013. In 2009, James averaged 1.7 SPG and 1.1 BPG for the Cleveland Cavaliers but fell in second to Dwight Howard. Thanks to his size and versatility in handling guards and forwards, James had five seasons finishing among the top five in MVP and DPOY voting.
2. Tim Duncan – 6 Seasons
1997-98 NBA Season (5th in MVP Race, 5th in DPOY Race)
1998-99 NBA Season (3rd in MVP Race, 5th in DPOY Race)
2000-01 NBA Season (2nd in MVP Race, 3rd in DPOY Race)
2002-03 NBA Season (1st in MVP Race, 4th in DPOY Race)
2004-05 NBA Season (4th in MVP Race, 4th in DPOY Race)
2006-07 NBA Season (4th in MVP Race, 3rd in DPOY Race)
How is it possible that a 15-time All-Defensive performer did not win a single Defensive Player of the Year trophy? More than likely, Duncan was left unnoticed because he was so low-key, and his impact could waver if you did not pay attention enough to what he did on the floor. The superstar power forward was an iconic defensive player down low, whether he blocked shots or not, because he deterred many more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b3GrE3meQE
The Big Fundamental played spectacular team defense but also was dominant in one-on-one situations. He had six seasons finishing in the top-5 in MVP and DPOY voting, capturing the league MVP twice in his career overall and coming up short for DPOY multiple times. What Duncan did on both ends of the floor is a reason why the player has five NBA titles and three Finals MVP awards, and he was the undisputed key cog of the San Antonio Spurs dynasty that also featured Gregg Popovich consistently.
1. Michael Jordan – 7 Seasons
1987-88 NBA Season (1st in MVP Race, 1st in DPOY Race)
1988-89 NBA Season (2nd in MVP Race, 5th in DPOY Race)
1989-90 NBA Season (3rd in MVP Race, 5th in DPOY Race)
1991-92 NBA Season (1st in MVP Race, 3rd in DPOY Race)
1992-93 NBA Season (3rd in MVP Race, 2nd in DPOY Race)
1996-97 NBA Season (2nd in MVP Race, 5th in DPOY Race)
1997-98 NBA Season (1st in MVP Race, 4th in DPOY Race)
Michael Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, having won 10 scoring titles during the regular season to go along with his five MVP awards. In the playoffs, Jordan was also a six-time NBA champion with six Finals MVPs, and he is, without a doubt, the greatest offensive player ever. As dominant as he was on offense, he was arguably just as effective on defense.
No doubt about it, MJ deserved the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1988. Jordan would create a dynamic defensive duo with Scottie Pippen that picked offensive players up the entire length of the court. But Jordan’s defense in 1988 has to be the best we saw from the shooting guard, as he posted 3.2 SPG and 1.6 BPG during the year. Michael’s basketball IQ was renowned for being great, and he got it done on defense just as much as he did on offense. When discussing the greatest perimeter defenders ever, MJ’s name is usually at the top, and the fact he finished top-five in MVP and DPOY voting over seven seasons is a reason why.
