It’s rare, but there have been times in NBA history when a player is so good, so quickly that they receive MVP votes very early on in their careers.
Two prime examples of that took place in 2003-04, when LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony became the two youngest men ever to get MVP votes, at ages 19 and 20 apiece.
Two other superstar players to receive MVP votes early on in their careers were Hall-of-Famers Isiah Thomas and Shaquille O’Neal, who received those honors in 1981-82 and 1992-93 respectively.
The most recent player to get MVP votes at a very young age, and the player who rounds out the Top 5 of the ranking below, is Luka Doncic in 2019-20 when he finished fourth in MVP voting as a 21-year-old.
Below, check out the 50 youngest players to get MVP votes in NBA history.
(Note: All ages by the time of the official end of that season.)
Finished at No. 9 in the MVP vote in 2003-04
Finished at No. 14 in the MVP vote in 2003-04
Finished at No. 17 in the MVP vote in 1981-82
Finished at No. 7 in the MVP vote in 1992-93
Finished at No. 4 in the MVP vote in 2019-20
Finished at No. 20 in the MVP vote in 1975-76
Finished at No. 2 in the MVP vote in 2009-10
Finished at No. 12 in the MVP vote in 1999-00
Finished at No. 11 in the MVP vote in 1980-81
Finished at No. 12 in the MVP vote in 1997-98
Finished at No. 17 in the MVP vote in 1996-97
Finished at No. 6 in the MVP vote in 2000-01
Finished at No. 5 in the MVP vote in 1997-98
Finished at No. 10 in the MVP vote in 2019-20
Finished at No. 13 in the MVP vote in 1994-95
Finished at No. 6 in the MVP vote in 1976-77
Finished at No. 10 in the MVP vote in 2010-11
Finished at No. 13 in the MVP vote in 1982-83
Finished at No. 5 in the MVP vote in 2014-15
Finished at No. 21 in the MVP vote in 1981-82
Finished at No. 12 in the MVP vote in 2019-20
Finished at No. 6 in the MVP vote in 1984-85
Finished at No. 10 in the MVP vote in 1977-78
Finished at No. 16 in the MVP vote in 1998-99
Finished at No. 12 in the MVP vote in 1984-85
Finished at No. 5 in the MVP vote in 2007-08
Finished at No. 7 in the MVP vote in 2016-17
Finished at No. 5 in the MVP vote in 1960-61
Finished at No. 8 in the MVP vote in 1962-63
Finished at No. 9 in the MVP vote in 2004-05
Finished at No. 1 in the MVP vote in 2010-11
Finished at No. 2 in the MVP vote in 1973-74
Finished at No. 17 in the MVP vote in 1971-72
Finished at No. 7 in the MVP vote in 2021-22
Finished at No. 7 in the MVP vote in 1976-77
Finished at No. 22 in the MVP vote in 1984-85
Finished at No. 7 in the MVP vote in 1955-56
Finished at No. 21 in the MVP vote in 1981-82
Finished at No. 12 in the MVP vote in 1960-61
Finished at No. 10 in the MVP vote in 1998-99
Finished at No. 8 in the MVP vote in 1956-57
Finished at No. 2 in the MVP vote in 2007-08
Finished at No. 15 in the MVP vote in 1980-81
Finished at No. 17 in the MVP vote in 1975-76
Finished at No. 5 in the MVP vote in 1971-72
Finished at No. 3 in the MVP vote in 1969-70
Finished at No. 10 in the MVP vote in 1962-63
Finished at No. 13 in the MVP vote in 1987-88
Finished at No. 5 in the MVP vote in 1966-67
Finished at No. 7 in the MVP vote in 2006-07
