Kareem Abdul-Jabbar received the NBA MVP award 6 times in his career, the most of any player.
Beginning in the 1955-56 season with Bob Pettit of the St. Louis Hawks, the NBA has doled out a Most Valuable Player award. Now known as the Michael Jordan Trophy, the MVP has been awarded to 36 different players in NBA history, but the list of players to win at least three such trophies in their career is even smaller.
Overall, nine players have won at least three MVPs in their careers, with Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holding the record with six career MVPs. Below is a look at every player to win at least three NBA MVPs.
Every player with at least 3 NBA MVPs in their career
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6)
- Michael Jordan (5)
- LeBron James (4)
- Bill Russell (4)
- Larry Bird (3)
- Wilt Chamberlain (3)
- Magic Johnson (3)
- Nikola Jokic (3)
- Moses Malone (3)
Here’s a look at their MVP campaigns:
| Player (Team) | Season | PPG | RPG | APG |
| Bill Russell (Celtics) | 1957-58 | 16.6 | 22.7 | 2.9 |
| Bill Russell (Celtics) | 1960-61 | 16.9 | 23.9 | 3.4 |
| Bill Russell (Celtics) | 1961-62 | 18.9 | 23.6 | 4.5 |
| Bill Russell (Celtics) | 1962-63 | 16.8 | 23.6 | 4.5 |
| Wilt Chamberlain (Warriors) | 1959-60 | 37.6 | 27 | 2.3 |
| Wilt Chamberlain (76ers) | 1965-66 | 33.5 | 24.6 | 5.2 |
| Wilt Chamberlain (76ers) | 1966-67 | 24.1 | 24.2 | 7.8 |
| Wilt Chamberlain (76ers) | 1967-68 | 24.3 | 23.8 | 8.6 |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Bucks) | 1970-71 | 31.7 | 16 | 3.3 |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Bucks) | 1971-72 | 34.8 | 16.6 | 4.6 |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Bucks) | 1973-74 | 27 | 14.5 | 4.8 |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Lakers) | 1975-76 | 27.7 | 16.9 | 5 |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Lakers) | 1976-77 | 26.2 | 13.3 | 3.9 |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Lakers) | 1979-80 | 24.8 | 10.8 | 4.5 |
| Moses Malone (Rockets) | 1978-79 | 24.8 | 17.6 | 1.8 |
| Moses Malone (Rockets) | 1981-82 | 31.1 | 14.7 | 1.8 |
| Moses Malone (76ers) | 1982-83 | 24.5 | 15.3 | 1.3 |
| Larry Bird (Celtics) | 1983-84 | 24.2 | 10.1 | 6.6 |
| Larry Bird (Celtics) | 1984-85 | 28.7 | 10.5 | 6.6 |
| Larry Bird (Celtics) | 1985-86 | 25.8 | 9.8 | 6.8 |
| Magic Johnson (Lakers) | 1986-87 | 23.9 | 6.3 | 12.2 |
| Magic Johnson (Lakers) | 1988-89 | 22.5 | 7.9 | 12.8 |
| Magic Johnson (Lakers) | 1989-90 | 22.3 | 6.6 | 11.5 |
| Michael Jordan (Bulls) | 1987-88 | 35 | 5.5 | 5.9 |
| Michael Jordan (Bulls) | 1990-91 | 31.5 | 6 | 5.5 |
| Michael Jordan (Bulls) | 1991-92 | 30.1 | 6.4 | 6.1 |
| Michael Jordan (Bulls) | 1995-96 | 30.4 | 6.6 | 4.3 |
| Michael Jordan (Bulls) | 1997-98 | 28.7 | 5.8 | 3.5 |
| LeBron James (Cavs) | 2008-09 | 28.4 | 7.6 | 7.2 |
| LeBron James (Cavs) | 2009-10 | 29.7 | 7.3 | 8.6 |
| LeBron James (Heat) | 2011-12 | 27.1 | 7.9 | 6.2 |
| LeBron James (Heat) | 2012-13 | 26.8 | 8 | 7.3 |
| Nikola Jokic (Nuggets) | 2020-21 | 26.4 | 10.8 | 8.3 |
| Nikola Jokic (Nuggets) | 2021-22 | 27.1 | 13.8 | 7.9 |
| Nikola Jokic (Nuggets) | 2023-24 | 26.4 | 12.4 | 9.0 |
