MVP & Awards

Won 3 MVP awards (1979, 1982, 1983).

Won MVP in 1999-2000.

Won MVP in 2000-01 — the shortest MVP in NBA history at 6'0".

Won 5 MVP awards (1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965).

Won the MVP award in the 2013-14 season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, averaging 32.0 ppg.

Won 3 MVP awards (2021, 2022, 2024) — the most by a center since Kareem.

Won 3 consecutive MVPs (1984, 1985, 1986) — only the 3rd player to do so.

Won MVP (2004) and Defensive Player of the Year (2008). Won championship with Celtics in 2008.

Won MVP in 1963-64.

Won MVP in 1994-95. Also won DPOY in 1991-92.

Won ROY in 2018-19. Had already won EuroLeague MVP at age 19 before entering the NBA.

Won MVP in 2002 and 2003.

Won MVP in 1993-94.

Won a record 6 MVP awards (1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980).

Won back-to-back MVPs in 1997 and 1999.

Won 4 MVP awards: 2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12, 2012-13. Two with Cleveland, two with Miami.

Won the MVP award in the 2007-08 season.

Won 4 MVP awards (1960, 1966, 1967, 1968).

Won back-to-back MVPs (2019, 2020). Only the 3rd international player to win MVP.

Won DPOY in 1995-96 — the only point guard to ever win the award.

Won MVP in 2017-18 with the Houston Rockets, averaging 30.4 ppg.

Won back-to-back MVPs in 2014-15 and 2015-16. The 2015-16 award was the first unanimous MVP vote in NBA history.

Won DPOY four times (1995, 1997, 1998, 2001) — tied for the most in NBA history.

Won 5 MVP awards (1987-88, 1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98).

Won Rookie of the Year in 1987-88 with the New York Knicks.

Won MVP in 2006-07.

Won DPOY in 1985-86 with the San Antonio Spurs.

Won back-to-back MVPs (2005, 2006) with the Phoenix Suns. Revolutionized pace-and-space basketball.

Won MVP in 1987, 1989, 1990.

Won DPOY in 1993 and 1994.

Won DPOY in 2019-20 — the same season as his MVP.

Won DPOY in 1987-88 while also leading the league in scoring.

Won ROY in 2007-08 with the Seattle SuperSonics.

Won ROY in 1984-85 with the Chicago Bulls.

Won Rookie of the Year in his debut season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, averaging 20.9 ppg at age 18.

Won 3 Olympic gold medals with Team USA (2008, 2012, 2016) — the most in U.S. men's basketball history.

Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. The NBA Finals MVP trophy is named after him.

Won 3 Olympic gold medals with Team USA (2012, 2016, 2020). USA Basketball all-time leading scorer.

Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Won Olympic gold with Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Won 2 Olympic gold medals with Team USA (2008 Beijing, 2012 London).

Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Won 2 Olympic gold medals with Team USA (2008 Beijing, 2012 London) and a bronze medal (2004 Athens).

Won 2 Olympic gold medals with Team USA (1984 Los Angeles, 1992 Barcelona 'Dream Team').

Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021, honoring the 75 greatest players in NBA history.

At 7'1" and 325 lbs, required rule changes (Hack-a-Shaq). One of the most physically dominant players ever.

Spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers (1996-2016) — one of the longest single-team tenures in NBA history.

Holds the record for most points scored in USA Basketball history across all international competitions.

Drafted with the 41st pick in 2014 — the lowest-drafted MVP in NBA history. Selected while the Nuggets' GM was at a Taco Bell.

Became the first Black head coach in NBA history when he served as player-coach of the Celtics (1966-1969), winning 2 championships as coach.

Known as "The Point God" for his elite court vision and floor generalship. Led the Suns to the 2021 Finals.

Scored 8 points in 8.9 seconds against the Knicks in the 1995 playoffs — one of the most iconic sequences in NBA history.

Won the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest with one of the most legendary performances in NBA history — including the "Honey Dip" elbow-in-rim dunk.

Changed NBA culture with his crossover, cornrows, and fearless attitude. Transcended basketball to become a cultural icon.

Drafted 15th overall in 2013 from Greece. Developed from a raw athletic prospect into the most dominant two-way player in the NBA.

His signature finger wag after blocking shots became one of the most iconic celebrations in NBA history. A global humanitarian ambassador.

His signature post move — the Dream Shake — is considered the most skilled footwork in basketball history.

Predicted the 76ers would sweep the 1983 playoffs — "Fo, fo, fo" (four wins in each round). They went 12-1, the most dominant playoff run at the time.

His rivalry with Magic Johnson is credited with saving the NBA in the 1980s and creating the modern league.

Known for hitting game-winning three-pointers from the logo. His 37-foot buzzer-beater to eliminate OKC in 2019 is one of the most iconic playoff moments.

Invented the most unblockable shot in basketball history — the skyhook. Virtually unstoppable throughout his 20-year career.

Known as "The Mailman" because he always delivered. Formed the greatest pick-and-roll duo in history with John Stockton.

Spent entire 19-year career with San Antonio. Greatest power forward of all time.

Spent his entire 21-year career (1998-2019) with the Dallas Mavericks — the longest single-team tenure in NBA history.

Won EuroLeague MVP and championship with Real Madrid at age 19 — before entering the NBA. The youngest EuroLeague MVP ever.

Revolutionized the step-back three-pointer as an offensive weapon. Changed how guards create space in the modern NBA.

Played 22 NBA seasons (1998-2020) — the longest career in NBA history. Spanned four decades of basketball.

Formed the most prolific pick-and-roll partnership in NBA history with Karl Malone, running it for 18 seasons.

Led the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals alongside Kyrie Irving.

vs. Boston Celtics(1-4)

Created a global legacy through 'Mamba Mentality' — an approach to life and competition that inspired athletes worldwide. Posthumously inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020.

Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.

Became the first father to play alongside his son in the NBA when Bronny James was drafted by the Lakers in 2024.

Built the Air Jordan brand into a multi-billion dollar empire. Widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time.

Appeared in 10 NBA Finals across three franchises — 8 consecutive Finals appearances from 2011-2018.