Ranking EVERY NBA MVP Since 2000

Joel Piton
11 minutes ago
20 min read

Every MVP award takes us back to an era. Since 2000, we’ve seen legends rise in little time, dynasties cemented, archetypes we never dreamed of and stars rewriting the history books. From Allen Iverson dragging Philly to the top, to Derrick Rose becoming the youngest MVP ever, to Steph Curry changing basketball forever, to Nikola Jokic turning the center position into a cheat code, every MVP left a different impression.

With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander securing back-to-back MVP honors, it’s the perfect time to look back at every winner from the 2000s to today and ask the real question: how What MVP seasons stand above the rest? And how deeply has the voting system changed? Some of these were undeniable picks. Some were controversial. Some aged beautifully. Others…maybe not so much.

Let’s rank every NBA MVP since 2000 🏅

Steve Nash (2006)
Phoenix Suns

2005-06 Stats:

18.8 PPG · 4.2 RPG · 10.5 APG · 51.2% FG

One of the best playmakers to ever do it, no one is questioning the Hall of Fame talent Steve Nash possessed. But if you look at how the award is evaluated today, where high-volume scoring is king—Nash's second MVP stands out as a massive historical anomaly. Kobe averaged 35. LeBron averaged 31. However, Nash won this award because he truly was more valuable to his team than anyone else in the NBA. WIth Amar'e Stoudemire undergoing extreme surgery and Joe Johnson traded, this team was expected to crumble. Instead, Nash single handedly carried this team to 54 wins, shot 50-40-90 and formed one of the scariest and toughest two-way teams in basketball with guys like Raja Bell and Boris Diaw. Nash beat the odds and made this team great.

Joel Embiid (2023)
Philadelphia 76ers

2022-23 Stats:

33.1 PPG · 10.2 RPG · 4.2 APG · 54.8% FG

This one is debatable. On paper, his numbers look like prime Shaq mixed with prime Dirk Nowitzki. In reality, the context surrounding the award makes it one of the most heavily scrutinized MVP trophies of the modern era. Voter fatigue was likely at play here. Fair or not, history will always view this award through the lens of Nikola Jokic, who had won the previous two MVPs and was having arguably the better statistical season in 2023. But voters were extremely hesitant to give a player three consecutive MVPs—something that hadn't been done since Larry Bird. Embiid also only played 66 games and had a large "free-throw diet" taking about 12 per game, and of course, making them at a high clip. The 76ers than proceeded to get bounced out of the second round and since this season, Embiid hasn't managed to play more than 39 games in a season.

Steve Nash (2005)
Phoenix Suns

2004-05 Stats:

15.5 PPG · 11.5 RPG · 3.3 APG · 50.2% FG

The 04-05 Phoenix Suns season was the initial explosive, earth-shattering introduction of a brand-new style of basketball. At 15.5 points per game, Nash has the lowest scoring average for an MVP since Wes Unseld in 1969. He didn't even lead his own team in scoring. So, why'd he win it? In 2003-04 the Suns were a struggling lottery team. They signed Nash away from Dallas in free agency, and he instantly engineered a historic turnaround, vaulting the Suns to a league-best 62-20 record. He implemented "Seven Seconds or Less" basketball and in the blink of an eye, a dead franchise instantly became the most lethal, must-watch show in sports. He led the league in assists, was just shy of making the 50-40-90 club and was hands down the purest point guard in basketball.

Allen Iverson (2001)
Philadelphia 76ers

2000-01 Stats:

31.1 PPG · 3.8 RPG · 4.6 APG · 42.0% FG

If you're ranking cultural impact, AI is a top five MVP. But if you view it statistically, the cracks in the armor start to show. Shooting 42.0% from the field is a glaring red flag for an MVP, and AI took a staggering 25.5 field goal attempts per game to get his 31.1 points. He had a 35.9% usage rate. When you have a permanent green light to take over nearly half of your team's shots, the stats are going to inflate. And despite leading the league in steals, AI was far from the best defender. However, Iverson was the entire, undisputed identity of a 56-win, number-one seed in the Eastern Conference. AI was a pound-for-pound athletic miracle. With a completely unteachable combination of speed, a lethal crossover, and zero fear, Iverson was a short king who took over the league regardless of his height.

Dirk Nowitzki (2007)
Dallas Mavericks

2006-07 Stats:

24.6 PPG · 8.9 RPG · 3.4 APG · 50.2% FG

This is the single most tragic MVP season in NBA history. 50-40-90 shooting, an unguardable fadeaway and footwork, and some of the best play from a power forward we've ever seen cemented Dirk as one of the best to ever do it. The Dallas Mavericks were an absolute buzzsaw in the regular season, and he was the undisputed alpha. Coming off a heartbreaking, controversial loss to the Miami Heat in the 2006 Finals, Dirk and the Mavs were on a mission of pure vengeance and finished the season with 67 wins. Dirk was a tactical unicorn who broke the traditional mold of what a 7-footer could do. The Mavericks then proceeded to get humiliated by the "we Believe" Warriors (the 8th seed) in the very first round. Tragic. There's no doubting what Dirk accomplished in the regular season, but it's hard to put this any higher.

Russell Westbrook (2017)
Oklahoma City Thunder

2016-17 Stats:

31.6 PPG · 10.7 RPG · 10.4 APG · 42.5% FG

We know. Averaging a triple-double is lethal and something we hadn't seen since Oscar Robertson in 1962. But we also have to be fair about his play here. Russ won just 47 games and was the 6th seed, and then proceeded to get bounced out of the first round 1-4. He also shot just 42.5% from the field and 34.3% from three. His True Shooting percentage (55.4%) was exactly league average. He turned the ball over five times a game and had a historic 41% usage rate. Russell didn't just play for the Thunder, he was the Thunder and when a single player commands that much of the offense, high stats are practically guaranteed. Still, fans couldn't have been happier he won. In 2016, Kevin Durant shocked the world by leaving Russ in his dust to join the 73 win Warriors, and this was a true revenge statement.

Derrick Rose (2011)
Chicago Bulls

2010-11 Stats:

25.0 PPG · 4.1 RPG · 7.7 APG · 44.5% FG

This was a historic, culture-shifting season that shook up the basketball world. In 2010,

Rose was the flawless protagonist in the NBA's biggest storyline. LeBron James formed the "Heatles" superteam in Miami, instantly becoming the ultimate villain and while the world watched Miami, the 22-year-old hometown kid in Chicago quietly put an entire franchise on his back. The Bulls were plagued by injuries—Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah missed a combined 57 games but despite this, Rose carried an offense whose next-best creators were Luol Deng and Kyle Korver all the way to a league-best 62-20 record. They went 3-0 against Miami in the regular season. Rose was the most explosive, physically spectacular point guard the league had ever seen. What made him great was a blend of blinding speed, a devastating crossover, and complete body control in the air. He went on to be the youngest Most Valuable Player in NBA history.

Kobe Bryant (2008)
Los Angeles Lakers

2007-08 Stats:

28.3 PPG · 6.3 RPG · 5.4 APG · 45.9% FG

Many fans and analysts called this a longevity award, especially after his massive "snub" to Steve Nash in 2006. But it was also a completely deserved, elite season where he led a basketball renaissance in LA. Chris Paul had a strong case, but Kobe's aura was hard to match. The strong media consensus that it was "Kobe's turn." He had been the best player in the league for years and after spearheading the winningest team in the West, it was just about his. Mind you, this was right after Kobe demanded a trade. Instead of tanking, he came out and dominated and after securing Pau Gasol in a mid-season trade, the Lakers were best the best team in basketball. Kobe wasn't just chucking shots anymore; he trusted his teammates, passed the ball and was an absolute menace on the other end, making All-Defensive First Team. Notably, he eviscerated his pinky finger and rather than sitting out, he taped it up and finished the season having played all 82 games.

Nikola Jokic (2021)
Denver Nuggets

2020-21 Stats:

26.4 PPG · 10.8 RPG · 8.3 APG · 56.6% FG

This was the world's formal introduction to the "Point-Center". While the individual numbers were mind-boggling, the weird, compressed nature of the 2020–21 pandemic season and the resulting winning team keep this pick firmly in the middle of the pack compared to his later, more complete MVP campaigns. On paper, a 47-25 record looks weak but the 2020-21 season was shortened to just 72 games, al of which Jokic played. However, this is a bit less impressive than his other campaigns considering injuries got the two other front running vote getters out of the way (LeBron and Embiid) and Jokic was the last superstar standing. Still Jokic was still proving what he brought to the table as a basketball player. In mid-April when his co-star, Jamal Murray, tore his ACL, everyone assumed the Nuggets were done. Instead, Jokic went into hyper-drive and carried a backcourt starting Facundo Campazzo and Austin Rivers to the third seed. He refused to let them lose and was a one-man ecosystem.

Tim Duncan (2002)
San Antonio Spurs

2001-02 Stats:

25.5 PPG · 12.7 RPG · 3.7 APG · 50.8% FG

This was an absolute masterclass in quiet, cold-blooded efficiency, but it lacked the explosiveness that pushes an MVP season into the top 10. Still, Duncan didn't need to be explosive. He killed teams with blockouts, bank shots, and perfect defensive rotations. Because it looked so effortless and repetitive, it felt less dominant to the casual observer than it actually was, but in reality it contributed to the winningest team in the NBA. Still, I can't put this any higher. The Spurs won 58 games but were systematically dismantled 4-1 in the second round of the playoffs by Kobe, Shaq (the runner up MVP), and the Lakers. In the eyes of many fans at the time, Shaq was still the real apex predator of the league and made it proven in the postseason. David Robinson was 36 and the Twin Towers era was fading, Tony Parker was a rookie and Manu was still out overseas, this team had no identity, but despite all this—Duncan spearheaded one of the most fundamentally sound teams in the NBA.

Stephen Curry (2015)
Golden State Warriors

2014-15 Stats:

23.8 PPG · 4.3 RPG · 7.7 APG · 48.7% FG

At 23.8 points per game, Steph has one of the lowest scoring averages of any modern MVP winner. For context, James Harden poured in 27 a night that same year, and Russell Westbrook won the scoring title with 28. But this team was so good that Steph didn't even need to play more than thirty minutes a game before it was lights out for the opponent. In fact, Steph sat out the entire fourth quarter in 17 different games that season. Under rookie head coach Steve Kerr, the Golden State Warriors jumped from a fun, fringe playoff team to a historical 67-15 juggernaut. They completely blindsided the league with their shooting and defense. Steph forced opposing big men to guard him 35 feet from the basket out of pure panic. He broke his own NBA record by sinking 286 three-pointers in a single season, while shooting an absurd 44.3% from deep and then overcame LeBron and the Cavs for his first ever title.

Nikola Jokic (2022)
Denver Nuggets

2021-22 Stats:

27.1 PPG · 13.8 RPG · 7.9 APG · 58.3% FG

This was the ultimate carry job. Jamal Murray missed the entire season with an ACL tear, and Michael Porter Jr. played just nine games. Jokić took a starting lineup featuring Monte Morris, Will Barton, and Jeff Green and dragged them to 48 wins. Jokic didn't just lead the advanced analytics categories; he broke them. He recorded a 32.85 Player Efficiency Rating (PER), which broke Wilt Chamberlain’s 60-year-old single-season record. Averaging 27.1 points on 58.3% shooting when you are the only elite offensive threat on the floor is mind-boggling. Opposing defenses knew he was the only option, threw every double-team at him, and he still posted a 66.1% True Shooting percentage. Jokic was the Nuggets. When he played, they looked like. a60 win title contender. When he sat, the organization looked like a dumpster fire destined for the top of the draft lottery. Jokic became the first and only player in NBA history to record 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 assists in a single season that year.

Tim Duncan (2003)
San Antonio Spurs

2002-03 Stats:

23.3 PPG · 12.9 RPG · 3.9 APG · 51.3% FG

This was David Robinson’s retirement tour, so this season was all about transition. Despite lacking a secondary superstar, Duncan carried San Antonio to a league-best 60-22 record. He edged out Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant (who averaged 30) because the voters could no longer ignore Duncan's play, even if it wasn't flashy. He anchored the league's 3rd-best defense, using flawless footwork and elite positioning rather than explosive athleticism to alter the paint. Everything ran through him on the block and if he was doubled, he had no issue kicking it out to the open man. Duncan led the entire NBA in Win Shares (16.5) and finished second in Defensive Win Shares (7.2). He is one of a handful players to log over 1,000 rebounds (1,043) and over 200 blocks (237) in a single season while simultaneously leading a team to a title. And of course, he finished with a Finals MVP as well.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (2019)
Milwaukee Bucks

2018-19 Stats:

27.7 PPG · 12.5 RPG · 5.9 APG · 57.8% FG

This was Giannis' blow up year. Under first-year coach Mike Budenholzer, Giannis and the Bucks leaped from a mediocre 44-win squad the previous year to a league-best 60-22 record. The 2019 race was a fierce battle against James Harden, who was averaging a historic 36 points per game. Giannis won the voters over by matching elite offensive production with elite defensive destruction. He anchored the NBA's number one defense and finished runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year. Ultimate, analysts opted for Giannis' impact on multiple ends of the floor. At 6’11” with guard-like speed and an enormous stride length, Giannis became the ultimate open-court weapon. He could grab a defensive rebound and get to the opposing rim in three strides, rendering transition defense completely useless. Averaging 5.9 assists a night, Giannis was unselfish making the extra pass and kept the Bucks flowing as a hub. He became the first player since former Buck Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1976 to average at least 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists while shooting over 55% from the field.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2026)
Oklahoma City Thunder

2025-26 Stats:

31.1 PPG · 4.3 RPG · 6.6 APG · 55.3% FG

Shai secured his second consecutive MVP trophy by piloting the Oklahoma City Thunder to a league-best 64-18 record, locking down the cutthroat Western Conference's number one seed yet again. When the MVP race tightened against Nikola Jokic and a surging Victor Wembanyama, Shai separated himself in winning time, capturing 83 out of 100 first-place votes. Shai finished second in the league in scoring (31.1 PPG) while ranking just 42nd in total touches per game (66.6). Nobody in the league can dictate the tempo quite like Shai. The footwork, the mid-range, the ability to draw contact even if it's scrutinized here and there, Shai finds high percentage looks and makes low percentage looks. By retaining his crown, Shai became just the 14th player in NBA history to win consecutive MVP awards, putting his name alongside the sport's absolute pantheon.

LeBron James (2010)
Cleveland Cavaliers

2009-10 Stats:

29.7 PPG · 7.3 RPG · 8.6 APG · 50.3% FG

This was "King James" at his most physically explosive, operating as a 250-pound freight-train point guard before he went to Miami and learned what it took to win a title. LeBron secured his second consecutive MVP by guiding a deeply flawed Cleveland Cavaliers roster to a league-best 61-21 record. It was the second straight year the Cavs cleared 60 wins under his watch. The race wasn't even competitive. He left a 21-year old Kevin Durant (who won the scoring title) in his dust as well as back to back DPOY Dwight Howard. At 25 years old, LeBron was a heliocentric superstar who led the Cavs in scoring, ran the point, and brought the ball up the floor orchestrating every single set. If he got a step on his defender at the three-point line, he was getting to the rim, drawing a foul, or finishing an absurd and-one. There was no guarding him. LeBron became the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1964–65 to hit the 29/7/8 thresholds over a full season.

Nikola Jokic (2024)
Denver Nuggets

2023-24 Stats:

26.4 PPG · 12.4 RPG · 9.0 APG · 58.3% FG

This was the season The Joker officially cemented his status as a basketball deity, joining one of the most exclusive clubs in sports history by securing his third MVP trophy in four years. At first, it looked like Joel Embiid was going to run away with a back-to-back MVP. However, once Embiid sustained a knee injury and fell short of the NBA's new 65-game minimum rule, the race blew wide open. Jokic clinched the award by grinding the defending-champion Nuggets to a 57-25 record—tying the Oklahoma City Thunder for the best record in a historically brutal Western Conference. And Jokic wasn't much of a center, he was a 7-foot quarterback. If a defender blinked he zipped a pass to MPJ. If the defense stayed home, he was backing them into an easy lay at. the rim. Luka made a strong case for MVP but I think Jokic had the edge. By winning his third MVP, Jokic became just the ninth player in NBA history to win three or more MVPs, joining guys like Kareem, Jordan, LeBron, Wilt and more.

James Harden (2018)
Houston Rockets

2017-18 Stats:

30.4 PPG · 5.4 RPG · 8.8 APG · 44.9% FG

Some might say this is too high. Me? I think it's perfect. This was the year The Beard fully weaponized Daryl Morey's and Mike D’Antoni’s system, turning himself into an unguardable 1-on-1 scoring machine that brought the peak Durant-Curry Warriors to their absolute knees in the regular season. Harden piloted the Rockets to a franchise-record 65-17 record, securing the number one overall seed in the NBA. They were the only team that year to truly look the Golden State dynasty in the eye and out-execute them over 82 games. D'Antoni completely tore up the traditional ball-movement playbook and just let Harden cook, so much so that the NBA had to literally change he rule books and how referees make calls just to stop Harden. This was the season the step-back three became a historical cheat code. Defenders faced an impossible dilemma. He also averaged 8 points a night and manipulated weak-side defenses perfectly. To cap things off, Harden finished the season with the first 60 point triple-double in NBA history.

LeBron James (2012)
Miami Heat

2011-12 Stats:

27.1 PPG · 7.9 RPG · 6.2 APG · 53.1% FG

This was the season LeBron James finally captured his first NBA Championship and Finals MVP, shedding the "can't win the big one" label. This wasn't just another MVP: it was LeBron's evolutionary peak. LeBron entered the lockdown season with something to prove after losing to Dirk and the Mavs in 2011. The lockout compressed the season into a grueling 66 games. While other stars succumbed to fatigue or injuries, LeBron paced the Heat to a 46-20 record. This was easily LeBron's best defensive season. He could guard any position, send your shot flying or just intimidate you with his frame. He earned All-Defensive First Team honors and finished a razor-thin second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Bron also spent the summer working with Hakeem Olajuwon, and the post play opened up a whole new level of offensive talent waiting to be harnessed. Averaging 27 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals while shooting 53%, LeBron became the first and only player in NBA history to clear those thresholds in a single season.

Kevin Garnett (2004)
Minnesota Timberwolves

2003-04 Stats:

24.2 PPG · 13.9 RPG · 5.0 APG · 50.0% FG

You could argue KG was the face of basketball this year. Kids who couldn't even point out Minnesota on a school map were watching the Wolves play. He played all 82 games, logging 40 minutes a night with terrifying intensity. The Big Ticket carried Minnesota to a franchise-record 58 wins. They secured the top seed in a brutal Western Conference featuring the "Four Hall of Famers" Lakers, a prime Sacramento Kings squad spearheaded by Chris Webber, and the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. Operating out of the high post and mid-elbow, his five assists per game allowed Flip Saunders to run a fluid, unselfish offense that routinely punished double-teams. With a high-arching midrange jumper and a smooth post fadeaway, KG could score at will. Garnett led the entire NBA in both total points (1,987) and total rebounds (1,139). Leading the league in both total scoring and total rebounds in a single year is insanely rare.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2025)
Oklahoma City Thunder

2024-25 Stats:

32.7 PPG · 5.0 RPG · 6.4 APG · 51.9% FG

Do you know what's rarer than leading the league in both total scoring and total rebounds in a single year? Leading the league in scoring, total points, free throws made, winning MVP, a title, and Finals MVP in the same year. hai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 2024-25 campaign was historic, culminating in an absolute juggernaut of a regular season. Guarding Shai became impossible. He shot a blistering 52% from the field primarily as a perimeter slasher and mid-range assassin. His footwork and pacing allowed him to get to his spots entirely at will. Shai scored at least 20 points in 72 consecutive games to close out the season and he's still going to this day, making it the longest single season streak of its kind since 1963. And of course, by winning the regular season MVP, the scoring title, and eventually the Finals MVP, he became only the fourth player in NBA history to sweep all three awards in a single season joining Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (2020)
Milwaukee Bucks

2019-20 Stats:

29.5 PPG · 13.6 RPG · 5.6 APG · 55.3% FG

This was the weirdest season in modern NBA history as we know, but either way, Antetokounmpo's back-to-back MVP run represents the absolute ceiling of destructive two-way capability. Before the NBA season was abruptly suspended in March 2020 due to COVID-19, the Milwaukee Bucks were completely steamrolling the league. Giannis clinched the award by leading the Bucks to a 53-12 record through the first 65 games. Superb on both sides of the ball, Giannis didn't just win the MVP,, he also won Defensive Player of the Year. By sweeping both trophies, he joined Michael Jordan (1988) and Hakeem Olajuwon (1994) as the only players in modern history to win MVP and DPOY in the exact same season. He held opponents to a mind-boggling, league-low 36.5% shooting when he was the primary defender. His lateral quickness meant he could guard point guards on the perimeter, while his length allowed him to slide inside and protect the rim like a center. He was an Apex predator of every sort.

Kevin Durant (2014)
Oklahoma City Thunder

2013-14 Stats:

32.0 PPG · 7.4 RPG · 5.5 APG · 50.3% FG

This might be the most lethal pure scoring performance in NBA history. Durant kept the Thunder elite during an injury-plagued season for Russell Westbrook, who appeared in only 46 games. Fans and voters saw Durant as the league’s most indispensable player, as he maintained a 59-win pace for Oklahoma City while playing as the undisputed focal point of their offense—and the race wasn't particularly close. Durant led the league in scoring (32.0 PPG), capturing his fourth scoring title in five years. Standing 6'11" with a guard’s handle and a deadly perimeter jumper, Durant essentially broke every defensive scheme imaginable the minute the ball touched his fingers. Durant authored a streak of 41 consecutive games scoring at least 25 points. He was lethal from the mid-range, the three-point line, inside, you name it. He also posted a career-high 5.5 assists per game, proving that he could be unselfish if need be. This season is often haunted by how it ended. But as far as the regular season goes, this is top five for me.

LeBron James (2009)
Cleveland Cavaliers

2008-09 Stats:

28.4 PPG · 7.6 RPG · 7.2 APG · 48.9% FG

This is a lock. In his scariest season to date, this marked the start of LeBron's "King James" era, where he combined freakish, young-LeBron athleticism with the basketball IQ of a veteran. LeBron dragged a Cleveland roster—whose second-best player was Mo Williams—to a league-best 66-16 record. It was a 21-game improvement from the previous season, and voters and fans were floored that he could reach such heights without a true second superstar. He didn't just win: he dominated. He was the point guard, the primary scorer, and the team's best rebounder all at once. He was significantly faster and more explosive than anyone else on the floor and could get to the rim at will. He also finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He was essentially playing a different sport than everyone else. He combined the size of a power forward with the speed of a guard, allowing him to grab a board, fly down the court, and dunk on three defenders before they could even get their feet set.

Shaquille O'Neal (2000)
Los Angeles Lakers

1999-00 Stats:

29.7 PPG · 13.6 RPG · 3.8 APG · 57.4% FG

The was the singular most physically dominant individual campaign in NBA history. The Diesel stopped being just a great player and became an unstoppable force of nature that forced the entire league to change its roster construction just to survive him. Shaq clinched the MVP in a landslide, receiving 120 out of 121 first-place votes. He fell just one ballot shy of becoming the first unanimous MVP in NBA history. The narrative was perfect too: Phil Jackson arrived in L.A., challenged Shaq to get in shape and commit to defense, and the result was an immediate 67-15 record—the best in the league by a wide margin. At 345 pounds, Shaq defied physics. He could back down any center in the league with one dribble and a drop-step, making "defense" against him a meaningless concept. Teams literally couldn't play traditional basketball against him. Teams would sign players for the simple goaling of fouling Shaq to send to the free throw line—that's it. He led the NBA in both scoring (29.7 PPG) and field goal percentage (57.4%) and was hands down the greatest player on the planet.

LeBron James (2013)
Miami Heat

2012-13 Stats:

26.8 PPG · 8.0 RPG · 7.3 APG · 56.5% FG

This was LeBron's perfect form. The IQ, the athleticism, he lacked nothing as a basketball player. LeBron didn't just accumulate wins; he engineered one of the most dominant stretches in sports history. The 2012-13 Heat rattled off 27 consecutive victories between February and March, effectively turning the rest of the league into a joke. LeBron captured 120 of 121 first-place votes, narrowly missing the honor of becoming the first unanimous MVP in NBA history (one vote went to Carmelo). The consensus was absolute: he was the best player, on the best team, playing at a level no one else could touch. For a perimeter-oriented point-forward to shoot 56.5% from the field while averaging over 26 points and 7 assists is statistically absurd. And he didn't just score; he dictated the tempo of every possession. He finished the season with a Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 31.67, which was the second-highest mark in NBA history at that time (behind Wilt Chamberlain), and went on to win a title, All NBA First-Team honors, All-Defensive First Team honors, and a Finals MVP.

Stephen Curry (2016)
Golden State Warriors

2015-16 Stats:

30.1 PPG · 5.4 RPG · 6.7 APG · 50.4% FG

This was inevitable, and quite possibly the single greatest regular season in NBA history. This wasn't just an efficient anomaly; it was the season that fundamentally broke the NBA and forced the rest of the league to rebuild their entire identity in his image. In 61 seasons of MVP voting, no one had ever received 100% of the first-place votes—not Jordan, not Shaq, not LeBron. Curry received all 131 first-place votes. It was the only time in league history where the basketball world reached a 100% consensus. He led the Warriors to a 73-9 record, officially eclipsing Michael Jordan’s 1996 Chicago Bulls for the most wins in a single regular season. Curry created "gravity" that no other player in history could replicate. He could be 30 feet from the basket, double-teamed, and still be the most dangerous player on the floor. A weapon of mass destruction, he led the league in scoring with 30 a night on 50-40-90% splits, and sat out the entire 4th quarter in 20 different games because the job was already over. Curry also hit 402 three-pointers and to put that in perspective, he shattered his own record of 286 from the previous year by over 100. Say what you want about the postseason, but as far as the regular season goes, there's no debating this having the number one spot—for who knows how long.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

This wasn't easy. Every name on this list reached basketball’s highest regular-season peak, but not every MVP is made or selected equal. Some were statistical masterpieces. Some were "overrated". And some changed the way the game is played forever.

But now it’s your turn.

Did we hit the nail on the head with our rankings? How long will Steph Curry's unanimous 2016 remain the obvious No. 1? Did we rank LeBron, Shaq and the rest fairly? Who was too high? Who was too low? And which MVP season deserves more respect? Let us know how your ranking would look!

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Thanks for reading!

-Joel Piton

(@jpiton7)