Daily Archives: May 3, 2011

Derrick Rose, 2011 NBA MVP (Getty)

Derrick Rose, the favorite for most of the year, has been awarded the 2011 NBA MVP.  It is the sixth time the award has been given to a Chicago Bulls‘ cager.  Michael Jordan won it the other five times.

The Boston Celtics‘ Bill Russell also won the MVP five times.

But it’s Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who has won the most NBA MVPs with six – three with the Milwaukee Bucks and three with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The NBA began awarding the MVP in 1956 (for the 1955-56 season).  The St. Louis Hawks’ Bob Petit was the first winner.

Bill Russell (3x), Larry Bird (3x), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (2x twice), Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain (3x), Moses Malone, Steve Nash, Tim Duncan and LeBron James have all won back-to-back MVPs.

Updated May 12, 2012 to include LeBron James.

NBA MVPs by Team

1. Boston Celtics – 10 – Cousy (’57); Russell (’58, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’65); Cowens (’73); Bird (’84, ’85, ’86)

2. Los Angeles Lakers – 8 – Abdul-Jabbar (’76, ’77, ’80); Johnson (’87,’89,’90); O’Neal (’00); Bryant (’08)

3. Chicago Bulls – 6 - Jordan (’88, ’91, ’92, ’96, ’98); Rose (’11)

3. Philadelphia 76ers – 6 – Chamberlain (’66, ’67, ’68); Erving (’81); M. Malone (’83); Iverson (’01)

5. Houston Rockets – 3 – M. Malone (’79, ’82); Olajuwon (’94)

5. Milwaukee Bucks – 3 – Abdul-Jabbar (’71, ’72, ’74)

5. Phoenix Suns – 3 - Barkley (’93); Nash (’05, ’06)

5. San Antonio Spurs – 3 – Robinson (’95); Duncan (’02, ’03)

9. Cleveland Cavaliers – 2 - James (’09, ’10)

9. St. Louis Hawks – 2 - Pettit (’56, ’59)

9. Utah Jazz – 2 - K. Malone (’97, ’99)

12. Baltimore Bullets – 1 – Unseld (’69)

12. Buffalo Braves – 1 - McAdoo (’75)

12. Cincinnati Royals – 1 - Robertson (’64)

12. Dallas Mavericks – 1 - Nowitzki (’07)

12. Miami Heat – 1 – James (’12)

12. Minnesota Timberwolves – 1 - Garnett (’04)

12. New York Knicks – 1 - Reed (’70)

12. Philadelphia Warriors – 1 - Chamberlain (’60)

12. Portland Trail Blazers – 1 - Walton (’78)