The 5 most influential NBA MVPs

Since the award began in 1955, the NBA has honored 36 different players with the MVP award. Of course, every single player is talented and influential in their own way. Yet some of these legends shine brightest among all the stars.

The following list highlights the five most influential MVP winners in NBA history.

LeBron James

LeBron James was surrounded by unprecedented expectations when he went straight from high school to the NBA at the age of 18. James, who was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, has undoubtedly lived up to the expectations he faced. Now in his 22nd year, James has won four NBA championships. According to Sporting News, he won two titles with the Miami Heat in 2020, one with the Cavs and one with the Lakers. James also owns four NBA MVP awards.

Magic Johnson

Earvin Magic Johnson has changed the game since his time at Michigan State University in the early 1980s. Johnson captivated audiences during his college years with his dazzling style, particularly his flashy passing, and continued to do so in the NBA after the Los Angeles Lakers selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1979 draft. The five-time NBA champion received the NBA MVP award. three timeswon it in 1987, 1989 and 1990.

Johnson retired from the NBA in 1991, shortly after he was diagnosed with the HIV virus. After his active career, Johnson developed into one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the country. The NBA Hall of Famer acquired and sold 125 Starbucks locations, Business and Tech reported. He also worked with Sony Pictures to open Magic Johnson Theaters.

Wilt Chamberlain

During his NBA career in the 1960s and early 1970s, Wilt Chamberlain displayed athleticism never before seen for his size. The 7-foot-1 center dominated the court with his electrifying agility, stamina and aerial ability. Chamberlain scored more than 30,000 points in his career, making him one of the few players to reach that milestone, according to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He finished his career as a two-time NBA champion, 13-time All-Star and four-time NBA MVP. The Hall of Famer died in 1999.

Kareem Abdul Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has achieved his legendary status through the impact he has made on and off the pitch. The Hall of Fame center is best known for developing the skyhook, one of the most unstoppable moves in basketball. The UCLA legend gracefully threw a high arcing shot over his shoulder, creating a shot that was impossible for opposing centers to block.

Abdul-Jabbar won three national titles at UCLA and six NBA titles. He won five of these championships with the Lakers. According to Biography, Abdul-Jabbar received six MVP awards and became the NBA’s leading scorer before retiring in 1989.

The former Los Angeles Lakers star is also an outspoken social justice advocate to this day. In 2016, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama.

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan’s influence on the game of basketball is felt around the world. The six-time NBA champion attracted fans from all over the world during his 15-year professional career. Jordan took the game to new levels with his gravity-defying dunks and numerous clutch performances. The Chicago Bulls icon earned five MVP awards, Biography reported

He also made a name for himself in the NCAA, leading North Carolina to a national championship in 1982. Jordan scored his legendary game-winning shot in the title game, helping his team win over Georgetown University.

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