![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_9772107_168386701_lowres.jpg?w=1000)
There are many NBA players with multiple MVP awards, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who won six such accolades in his career, the most of any player ever. His lead there should be pretty safe, too, especially as LeBron James’ career continues to wind down. James has four in his own right.
But what if NBA players could only win the award once in their careers, as is the case with, for example, writers and the Literature Nobel prize.
We went back in time and looked up the MVP vote through the years to find out.
Check out the results below.
Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports Network
Finished first in the MVP vote
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/ab5f1d30412a4868ae5be5d03c00699a.jpg?w=825)
(AP Photo)
Finished first in the MVP vote
![Bill Russell, Boston Celtics](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2021/10/bill-russell.jpg?w=1000)
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Finished first in the MVP vote
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/3aeb58fa1905416698d8fd70fedc0bc5.jpg?w=1000)
(AP Photo/File)
Finished third in the MVP vote after Bob Pettit and Bill Russell
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/e89983706c2340cab691a18a1e81cc81.jpg?w=1000)
(AP Photo/Warren M. Winterbottom, File)
Finished first in the MVP vote
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/5b7a88f80ca24395a44f1202295c1e57.jpg?w=1000)
(AP Photo)
Finished fifth in the MVP vote after Bill Russell, Bob Pettit, Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_2154824_168386701_lowres.jpg?w=807)
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports Copyright (c) 2004 Malcolm Emmons
Finished fifth in the MVP vote after Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson and Elgin Baylor
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/61c8f76d06354ad5a254557b1d61419e.jpg?w=1000)
(AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler)
Finished in the MVP vote sixth after Bill Russell, Elgin Baylor, Oscar Robertson, Bob Pettit and Jerry West
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_8133549_168386701_lowres.jpg?w=1000)
Malcolm Emmons- USA TODAY Sports
Finished sixth in the MVP vote after Oscar Robertson, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Bob Pettit and Jerry West
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_9772111_168386701_lowres.jpg?w=812)
Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports Network
Finished fourth in the MVP vote after Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson and Jerry West
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_8262996_168386701_lowres.jpg?w=1000)
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Finished fifth in the MVP vote after Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Oscar Robertson and Bill Russell
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_4710658_168386701_lowres.jpg?w=1000)
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Finished in the MVP vote second after Wilt Chamberlain
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_4694390-1.jpg?w=1000)
Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports
Finished second in the MVP vote after Wilt Chamberlain
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_4711012-1.jpg?w=1000)
Malcolm Emmons- USA TODAY Sports
Finished first in the MVP vote
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_11837302-1.jpg?w=1000)
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Network.
Finished first in the MVP vote
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_11837264-1.jpg?w=1000)
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Network.
Finished first in the MVP vote
![John Havlicek, Boston Celtics](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2021/10/USATSI_5027354_168386701_lowres.jpg?w=1000)
Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Finished fourth in the MVP vote after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain
![Dave Cowens](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2021/10/USATSI_5054154_168386701_lowres.jpg?w=1000)
Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Finished first in the MVP vote
![Bob McAdoo](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2021/02/Bob-McAdoo-1975.jpg?w=1000)
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Finished second in the MVP vote after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
![Elvin Hayes](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2021/10/Elvin-Hayes.jpg?w=1000)
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Network.
Finished third in the MVP vote after Bob McAdoo and Dave Cowens
![Rick Barry](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2021/10/USATSI_5069574_168386701_lowres.jpg?w=1000)
Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Finished fourth in the MVP vote after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bob McAdoo and Dave Cowens
![Bill Walton, Portland Trail Blazers](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2020/09/bill-walton-1978.jpg?w=1000)
(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Finished second in the MVP vote after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
![George Gervin](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2021/10/George-Gervin.jpg?w=1000)
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports © Copyright Malcolm Emmons
Finished second in the MVP vote after Bill Walton
![Moses Malone](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2021/06/Moses-Malone.jpg?w=1000)
(Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
Finished first in the MVP vote
![Julius Erving](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2021/02/1978-Julius-Erving.jpg?w=1000)
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Finished second in the MVP vote after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
![Larry Bird](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2020/09/Larry-Bird-1982.jpg?w=1000)
(Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)
Finished second in the MVP vote after Julius Erving
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/52eadf73788042a5a454eafcf64348eb.jpg?w=1000)
(AP Photo)
Finished fourth in the MVP vote after Moses Malone, Larry Bird and Julius Erving
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_2155614-1.jpg?w=1000)
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports – copyright (c) Malcolm Emmons
Finished third in the MVP vote after Moses Malone and Larry Bird
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2021/06/Bernard-King.jpg?w=1000)
(Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)
Finished second in the MVP vote after Larry Bird
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/437f697648e5da11af9f0014c2589dfb-1.jpg?w=1000)
(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Finished fifth in the MVP vote after Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Moses Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
![Dominique Wilkins](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2021/10/Dominique-Wilkins.jpg?w=1000)
USA TODAY Sports
Finished second in the MVP vote after Larry Bird
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2021/05/jordan-1987c.jpg?w=1000)
(Photos by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
Finished second in the MVP vote after Magic Johnson
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2019/03/gettyimages-453826314.jpg?w=1000)
(Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Finished fourth in the MVP vote after Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_4709988-1.jpg?w=1000)
USA TODAY Sports
Finished third in the MVP vote after Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/cfb2f62a3e8e4c4fb6a2d680c518dbe6-1.jpg?w=1000)
(AP Photo/Susan Ragan)
Finished fifth in the MVP vote after Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan and Karl Malone
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/d29328bdacb847728433412f6b03a2ce-1.jpg?w=1000)
(AP Photo/Olga Shalygin)
Finished third in the MVP vote after Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_5330008-1.jpg?w=1000)
USA TODAY Sports
Finished second in the MVP vote after Michael Jordan
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_2124344_168386701_lowres.jpg?w=1000)
By USA TODAY Sports (c) Copyright USA TODAY Sports
Finished second in the MVP vote after Charles Barkley
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/a854a724e5a244d78970714c3186503d.jpg?w=1000)
(AP Photo/Fred Jewell)
Finished third in the MVP vote after Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_4808178-1.jpg?w=1000)
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Finished second in the MVP vote after David Robinson
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_8742387-1.jpg?w=1000)
RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
Finished third in the MVP vote after Michael Jordan and David Robinson
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/51658911-1.jpg?w=720)
MATT CAMPBELL/AFP via Getty Images
Finished third in the MVP vote after Karl Malone and Michael Jordan
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/1191303908.jpg?w=1000)
(DAN LEVINE/AFP via Getty Images)
Finished third in the MVP vote after Michael Jordan and Karl Malone
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/1191296372-1.jpg?w=1000)
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)
Finished second in the MVP vote after Karl Malone
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/51543261.jpg?w=979)
(CRAIG LASSIG/AFP via Getty Images)
Finished second in the MVP vote after Shaquille O’Neal
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/51603154.jpg?w=1000)
(JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images)
Finished first in the MVP vote
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/524698.jpg?w=1000)
(Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Finished first in the MVP vote
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/1814998-1.jpg?w=1000)
(Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
Finished third in the MVP vote after Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/50916714.jpg?w=1000)
(Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Finished third in the MVP vote after Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/53000263-1.jpg?w=1000)
(Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Finished first in the MVP vote
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/57630564-1.jpg?w=1000)
(Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Finished second in the MVP vote after Steve Nash
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/74044980-1.jpg?w=1000)
(Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
Finished first in the MVP vote
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/80979154-1.jpg?w=1000)
(Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Finished second in the MVP vote after Kobe Bryant
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/934c58b7cd2544d89db221e8b1f4192d.jpg?w=1000)
(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Finished third in the MVP vote after LeBron James and Kobe Bryant
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_4620093-1.jpg?w=1000)
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Finished second in the MVP vote after LeBron James
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_5262984_168386701_lowres.jpg?w=1000)
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Finished first in the MVP vote
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_6260502_168386701_lowres.jpg?w=1000)
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Finished fifth in the MVP vote after LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul and Kobe Bryant
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_7234742_168386701_lowres.jpg?w=1000)
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Finished third in the MVP vote after LeBron James and Kevin Durant
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_7892640_168386701_lowres.jpg?w=1000)
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Finished third in the MVP vote after Kevin Durant and LeBron James
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_8611483_168386701_lowres.jpg?w=1000)
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Finished first in the MVP vote
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_9275489_168386701_lowres.jpg?w=1000)
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Finished second in the MVP vote after Stephen Curry
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_10015529_168386701_lowres.jpg?w=1000)
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Finished first in the MVP vote
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_10805306_168386701_lowres.jpg?w=1000)
Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Finished first in the MVP vote
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/USATSI_12764839_168386701_lowres.jpg?w=1000)
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Finished first in the MVP vote
![](https://hoopshype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2022/01/1208484237.jpg?w=1000)
(Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Finished fourth in the MVP vote after Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James and James Harden