Who has won the most NBA All-Star Game MVPs of All-Time?

Publish date: 2024-06-25

The NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player (MVP) award is an annual honor given to the player voted as the best of the annual All-Star Game. The award was established in 1953, and as of 2023, the most recent recipient is Jayson Tatum. Let's delve into the players who have won the most NBA All-Star Game MVPs of all time.

Kobe Bryant and Bob Pettit: The Four-Time MVPs

Kobe Bryant and Bob Pettit hold the record for the most NBA All-Star Game MVPs, each winning the award four times. Bryant's exceptional performances in the All-Star Games in 2002, 2007, 2009, and 2011 led to him being named the MVP on each occasion. On the other hand, Bob Pettit secured the MVP title in the years 1956, 1958, 1959, and 1962, showcasing his dominance in the All-Star Games during that era.

Players with Three MVPs

Following closely behind Bryant and Pettit are several players who have clinched the NBA All-Star Game MVP title three times. These players are:

LeBron James (2006, 2008, 2018)
Michael Jordan (1988, 1996, 1998)
Shaquille O'Neal (2000, 2004, 2009)
Oscar Robertson (1961, 1964, 1969).

Two-Time MVPs

Several players have also won the NBA All-Star Game MVP award twice. They include:

Bob Cousy (1954, 1957)
Kevin Durant (2012, 2019)
Julius Erving (1977, 1983)
Allen Iverson (2001, 2005)
Magic Johnson (1990, 1992)
Karl Malone (1989, 1993)
Isiah Thomas (1984, 1986)
Russell Westbrook (2015, 2016).

Other Notable Winners

Apart from the multiple MVP winners, there are numerous players who have won the NBA All-Star Game MVP once. Some of these players are:

Giannis Antetokounmpo (2021)
Kawhi Leonard (2020)
Stephen Curry (2022)
Anthony Davis (2017)
Russell Westbrook (2016)
Kyrie Irving (2014).

Unique Achievements and Records

Several players have achieved unique distinctions in relation to the NBA All-Star Game MVP award:

Bob Pettit and Russell Westbrook are the only players to win consecutive awards.
Fourteen players have won the award playing for the team that hosted the All-Star Game.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has played in the most All-Star Games (18) without winning the All-Star Game MVP, while Adrian Smith won the MVP in his only All-Star Game.

The NBA All-Star Game MVP award has seen many exceptional talents being recognized for their outstanding performances. Kobe Bryant and Bob Pettit stand out as the record holders for the most MVP wins, with each securing the award four times. This accolade continues to be a prestigious honor in the NBA, celebrating the skill and prowess of the league's top players.