What if the MVP award truly reflected the best player in the league every single season—not narrative, not team record, just pure value and dominance?
Below is a full breakdown, followed by era-by-era context.
The Player Who REALLY Should Have Won NBA MVP For Each Year
| Year | Player |
|---|---|
| 1950 | George Mikan |
| 1951 | George Mikan |
| 1952 | George Mikan |
| 1953 | George Mikan |
| 1954 | George Mikan |
| 1955 | Bob Pettit |
| 1956 | Bob Pettit |
| 1957 | Bob Pettit |
| 1958 | Bill Russell |
| 1959 | Bob Pettit |
| 1960 | Bill Russell |
| 1961 | Bill Russell |
| 1962 | Bill Russell |
| 1963 | Bill Russell |
| 1964 | Bill Russell |
| 1965 | Bill Russell |
| 1966 | Bill Russell |
| 1967 | Wilt Chamberlain |
| 1968 | Wilt Chamberlain |
| 1969 | Willis Reed |
| 1970 | Jerry West |
| 1971 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| 1972 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| 1973 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| 1974 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| 1975 | Bob McAdoo |
| 1976 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| 1977 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| 1978 | Bill Walton |
| 1979 | Moses Malone |
| 1980 | Julius Erving |
| 1981 | Larry Bird |
| 1982 | Moses Malone |
| 1983 | Moses Malone |
| 1984 | Larry Bird |
| 1985 | Larry Bird |
| 1986 | Larry Bird |
| 1987 | Magic Johnson |
| 1988 | Michael Jordan |
| 1989 | Michael Jordan |
| 1990 | Michael Jordan |
| 1991 | Michael Jordan |
| 1992 | Michael Jordan |
| 1993 | Michael Jordan |
| 1994 | Hakeem Olajuwon |
| 1995 | Hakeem Olajuwon |
| 1996 | Michael Jordan |
| 1997 | Michael Jordan |
| 1998 | Michael Jordan |
| 1999 | Shaquille O’Neal |
| 2000 | Shaquille O’Neal |
| 2001 | Shaquille O’Neal |
| 2002 | Tim Duncan |
| 2003 | Tim Duncan |
| 2004 | Kevin Garnett |
| 2005 | Tim Duncan |
| 2006 | Kobe Bryant |
| 2007 | Kobe Bryant |
| 2008 | LeBron James |
| 2009 | LeBron James |
| 2010 | LeBron James |
| 2011 | LeBron James |
| 2012 | LeBron James |
| 2013 | LeBron James |
| 2014 | LeBron James |
| 2015 | LeBron James |
| 2016 | LeBron James |
| 2017 | LeBron James |
| 2018 | LeBron James |
| 2019 | Kawhi Leonard |
| 2020 | Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| 2021 | Nikola Jokic |
| 2022 | Nikola Jokic |
| 2023 | Nikola Jokic |
| 2024 | Nikola Jokic |
| 2025 | Nikola Jokic |
| 2026 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |
The 1950s: Mikan’s Absolute Dominance
Call it the “plumber’s era” if you want, but relative dominance matters—and George Mikan towered over his competition in a way very few players ever have. He was the league’s first true superstar and completely defined winning basketball in the early NBA.
Bob Pettit deserves his credit as well, anchoring the latter half of the decade as an elite scorer and rebounder for the Hawks.
The 1960s: Russell vs. Wilt
This decade is defined by the contrast between Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain.
Before 1967, Russell’s impact was undeniable:
- Eight straight championships
- Defensive dominance
- Elite basketball IQ and leadership
Wilt’s statistical dominance was historic, but it wasn’t until 1967—when he shifted toward a more team-oriented style—that he clearly surpassed Russell as the league’s best player.
The 1970s: Kareem’s Era (With ABA Context)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the defining force of the 1970s:
- Led the decade in scoring and blocks
- Finished second in rebounds
- Maintained elite two-way impact
This list excludes ABA players—otherwise, Julius Erving would have strong cases in multiple seasons.
Even so, Kareem’s consistency and longevity make him the clear centerpiece of the decade, with standout interruptions from Walton, McAdoo, and Malone.
The 1980s: Bird, Magic, and Moses
The 1980s featured more fluctuation at the top:
- Larry Bird dominated the mid-80s with one of the greatest peaks ever
- Moses Malone had multiple MVP-caliber seasons
- Magic Johnson, interestingly, likely peaks as the best player only in 1987
That 1987 season represents the height of the Showtime Lakers, where Magic fully combined scoring, playmaking, and leadership.
The 1990s: Michael Jordan’s League
Michael Jordan defines the decade—plain and simple.
Outside of his brief retirement:
- 6 championships
- Peak scoring dominance
- Elite defense
Hakeem Olajuwon’s 1994–95 stretch stands out as one of the greatest two-year peaks ever, but otherwise, this era belongs almost entirely to Jordan.
1999–2005: Shaq vs. Duncan (and KG)
This stretch is a battle between Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan.
You could reasonably flip several of these years either way:
- Shaq at his peak was the most dominant force in the league
- Duncan provided unmatched consistency and two-way impact
The one clear outlier is 2004, where Kevin Garnett’s all-around brilliance makes him the obvious choice.
2006–2018: The LeBron Era
From 2008 onward, the league belongs to LeBron James.
Even in years where others won MVP:
- His all-around impact remained unmatched
- Playoff performance separated him from the field
The biggest debate here is 2016. Stephen Curry’s unanimous MVP season was historic, but LeBron’s Finals performance underscores why he still held the “best player” title.
2019: Kawhi’s Playoff Peak
Kawhi Leonard’s 2019 run is one of the strongest postseason cases ever:
- 30.5 points per game in the playoffs
- Iconic Game 7 buzzer-beater vs. Philadelphia
- Championship-winning two-way dominance
Despite limited regular-season games, his overall value peaks here.
2020–Present: Jokic Takes Over
The modern era has quickly become Nikola Jokic’s league:
- Historic offensive efficiency
- Elite playmaking from the center position
- Consistent postseason impact
Giannis Antetokounmpo holds 2020, but from 2021 onward, Jokic’s case as the best player is difficult to challenge.
Final Thoughts
This exercise highlights how different “best player” and “MVP” can be. Narrative, team success, and voter fatigue often shape awards—but sustained dominance tells a different story.
And across NBA history, a few names stand above the rest:
- Mikan
- Russell
- Kareem
- Jordan
- LeBron
- Jokic
Each didn’t just win—they defined their eras.
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