The National Basketball Association (NBA) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award is one of the most coveted honors in the world of basketball. It is an annual award given to the player deemed to be the best of the season. Over the years, several players have been named NBA MVP more than once and there have been some truly remarkable streaks. But has anyone ever won three NBA MVPs in a row?
History of the NBA MVP Award
The NBA MVP Award was first given out in 1956-57 and has since been one of the most closely watched awards in basketball. It is voted on by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Each voter awards five points to the player they deem to be the most valuable, four points to the second-most valuable, three points to the third-most valuable, two points to the fourth-most valuable, and one point to the fifth-most valuable.
The award was initially given out to Bob Pettit of the St. Louis Hawks. Since then, it has been won by some of the greatest players in NBA history, including Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and LeBron James.
Previous Multi-Year MVP Streaks
The NBA MVP Award has been dominated by some of the game’s greatest players over the years. While no one has ever won three MVPs in a row, there have been some impressive streaks of multiple MVP Awards in consecutive years.
Bill Russell
Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics is the only player in NBA history to have won four MVP Awards in a row. He won the award in 1961, 1962, 1963, and 1964. Russell was a dominant force in the NBA during this period, leading the Celtics to eight consecutive NBA Championships.
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia and San Francisco Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Lakers won three MVP Awards in a row from 1960 to 1962. He was an absolute force in the NBA, leading the league in scoring and rebounding for seven seasons in a row and recording a record 100 points in a single game in 1962.
Steve Nash
Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns is the only player to have won back-to-back MVP Awards in consecutive seasons since the turn of the century. He won the award in 2005 and 2006, leading the Suns to the Western Conference Finals both years.
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls won the MVP Award in three consecutive seasons from 1991 to 1993. During this time, he led the Bulls to three consecutive NBA Championships and became one of the most iconic players in NBA history.
Has Anyone Ever Won Three NBA MVPs in a Row?
No one has ever won three consecutive NBA MVP Awards. Bill Russell has the longest streak of consecutive MVP Awards with four in a row. Wilt Chamberlain and Steve Nash have won three MVP Awards in a row and Michael Jordan has won three MVPs over a four-year span.
However, with the way the NBA is today, it is becoming increasingly difficult for any player to win the MVP Award in consecutive years. The competition for the award is much more intense and there are many more players vying for the honor.
Outlook for Future MVP Winners
Although no one has ever won three NBA MVPs in a row, it is still possible that someone could achieve this feat in the future. The NBA is constantly evolving and players who stay on top of their game can remain contenders for the award year after year.
LeBron James
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers is one of the leading contenders for the MVP Award every year. He has won the award four times in his career and is a perennial All-Star. At age 35, he is still playing at an elite level and has a chance to win the award again this season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks is another leading contender for the MVP Award. He has won the award twice in the past three years and is likely to be a contender for the award for years to come. At age 25, he is still in the prime of his career and could become the first player to ever win three MVP Awards in a row.
James Harden
James Harden of the Houston Rockets is another perennial contender for the MVP Award. He has won the award once and has finished in the top three of voting in five of the past six seasons. At age 31, he is still playing at an elite level and has a chance to make a run at three consecutive MVP Awards.
Conclusion
The NBA MVP Award is one of the most coveted honors in basketball. Over the years, some of the greatest players in NBA history have won the award multiple times. But has anyone ever won three NBA MVPs in a row? No one has ever achieved this feat, but it is still possible that someone could do it in the future. Players like LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and James Harden have a chance to make a run at three consecutive MVP Awards and make NBA history.
National Basketball Association (NBA), Most Valuable Player (MVP), Bob Pettit, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Steve Nash, Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden