NBA MVP Award Betting Odds and Event Info

Date: Date: 2027 - TBA (2026-27 season award)
Contest: BASKETBALL
Location: USA


The NBA is the premier basketball league in the world, attracting hundreds of millions of fans each season and showcasing the highest level of professional competition. While the ultimate goal for every player is an NBA championship, individual excellence is recognized through one of the league's most prestigious honors: the NBA Most Valuable Player Award.

The NBA Most Valuable Player Award is presented annually to the player judged to have had the greatest overall impact during the regular season. The winner receives the Michael Jordan Trophy, introduced in December 2022 in honor of the five-time MVP. First introduced during the 1955-56 season, the MVP award has become one of the most significant individual accolades in global sports.


Next NBA MVP Award - 2026-27:

The next award will recognize performance during the 2026-27 regular season, which runs from October 20, 2026, to April 11, 2027. The NBA has not yet announced the exact date when the winner will be revealed.

The regular-season MVP is separate from the NBA Finals MVP. Playoff performances do not count toward the regular-season award, even when the winner is announced during the postseason.


How the NBA MVP Is Decided:

At the conclusion of each regular season, a panel of sports journalists and media members votes on the MVP award. Voters rank their top five candidates, with points assigned based on placement. The player with the highest total point tally is named Most Valuable Player.

First-place votes are worth 10 points, followed by seven for second, five for third, three for fourth, and one for fifth. The 2025-26 award was decided by a global panel of 100 media voters.

This media-based voting system was introduced for the 1980-81 season. Prior to that, the award was decided by player voting, reflecting how the league has evolved alongside its global media presence.

Players generally must appear in at least 65 qualifying games to be eligible. A game normally counts toward that requirement only if the player logs at least 20 minutes, although up to two games of at least 15 minutes can count. The rules also provide limited injury exceptions and an appeals process for extraordinary circumstances.


Most Recent NBA MVP - 2026:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - Oklahoma City Thunder:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander claimed the 2025-26 NBA Most Valuable Player award, following his first win in 2024-25. The Canadian guard was announced as the winner on May 17, 2026, after leading Oklahoma City to an NBA-best 64-18 regular-season record.

He averaged 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.3 rebounds across 68 games. Gilgeous-Alexander received 83 of the 100 first-place votes and finished with 939 voting points, ahead of Nikola Jokic in second and Victor Wembanyama in third.

His second MVP award placed him alongside Steve Nash as the only Canadians to win the honor more than once.


Multiple-Time NBA MVP Winners:

Over the decades, only a select group of players have won the NBA MVP award multiple times, cementing their status among the greatest to ever play the game.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar:

Holds the all-time record with six MVP awards, earned across his legendary career with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers. His MVP seasons came in 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, and 1980.

Bill Russell:

Won the MVP award five times with the Boston Celtics, reflecting his unparalleled influence during the NBA's early dynastic era. His MVP seasons were 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, and 1965.

Michael Jordan:

Captured five MVP awards during his career with the Chicago Bulls. His wins came in 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, and 1998.

Wilt Chamberlain:

Won four MVP awards in 1960, 1966, 1967, and 1968. He and Wes Unseld are the only players to win MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season, accomplishing the feat in 1960 and 1969, respectively.

LeBron James:

Earned four MVP awards in 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013, reflecting his sustained excellence across multiple seasons and teams.

Three-Time Winners:

Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Nikola Jokic have each won three MVP awards. Jokic's wins came in 2021, 2022, and 2024.

Two-Time Winners:

Bob Pettit, Karl Malone, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have each won the award twice.


International Impact:

In recent decades, the NBA MVP award has increasingly recognized international talent. Players such as Dirk Nowitzki, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have reshaped the league's landscape, reinforcing the NBA's status as a truly global competition.

Gilgeous-Alexander's 2026 victory extended the run of MVP awards won by players born outside the United States to eight consecutive seasons.


Legacy and Significance:

Winning the NBA Most Valuable Player award represents the highest individual recognition for regular season performance. While it does not guarantee postseason success, the MVP trophy remains a defining benchmark of basketball greatness.

The award reflects dominance, consistency, leadership, and influence on winning, and it continues to evolve as the league grows faster, more global, and more competitive with each passing season.

-

View more Sporting Contests