- Michael Jordan won MVP and Finals MVP in the same season on four occasions.
- LeBron James and Larry Bird achieved the feat twice.
- Seven other players have won MVP and Finals MVP in the same year.
Winning NBA MVP and Finals MVP in the same season represents dominance. It is a sign that a player has posted a spectacular regular season and followed it up with a strong playoff run ending in a ring.
The regular-season MVP is often among the basketball betting favourites to win Finals MVP when the playoffs get underway. It is a relatively rare occurrence that a player wins both awards in the same season, with only 10 players in league history achieving the feat.
10 NBA Players That Won NBA MVP & Finals MVP in Same Season
| Player | Team | Year(s) |
| Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls | 1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98 |
| LeBron James | Miami Heat | 2011-12, 2012-13 |
| Larry Bird | Boston Celtics | 1983-84, 1985-86 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma City Thunder | 2024-25 |
| Tim Duncan | San Antonio Spurs | 2002-03 |
| Shaquille O'Neal | Los Angeles Lakers | 1999-2000 |
| Hakeem Olajuwon | Houston Rockets | 1993-94 |
| Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers | 1986-87 |
| Moses Malone | Philadelphia 76ers | 1982-83 |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Milwaukee Bucks | 1970-71 |
| Willis Reed | New York Knicks | 1969-70 |
List of Players Who Won NBA MVP and Finals MVP in the Same Year
1. Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls (1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98)
As is the case with many NBA records, Michael Jordan is in a league of his own. His Airness won NBA MVP and Finals MVP in the same season on four occasions. No other player has done that more than twice.
Jordan could easily have done this in all six of the Chicago Bulls’ championship years – he was narrowly beaten for MVP by Karl Malone in 1996-97 and led the league in scoring in 1992-93.
2. LeBron James, Miami Heat (2011-12, 2012-13)
In his second and third seasons with the Miami Heat, LeBron James became the second player ever to win regular-season MVP, a title, and Finals MVP in the same season.
James also finished in the top three in MVP voting in his two other title-winning seasons.
3. Larry Bird, Boston Celtics (1983-84, 1985-86)
Leading the Boston Celtics’ dynasty in the 1980s, Larry Bird became the first player to have multiple seasons with NBA MVP and Finals MVP.
Bird won his three NBA MVPs in three consecutive seasons.
In 1984-85, his Celtics fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games in the Finals, with Larry Legend averaging 23.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in the series. Boston had beaten the Lakers in the Finals in the previous season.
4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder (2024-25)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the latest player in NBA history to join the elite list of those who have won the NBA MVP and Finals MVP in a single season. He led the young Oklahoma City Thunder to the promised land with his elite offensive arsenal and leadership.
His 32.7 points per game average in the regular season also set the record for the most by a player who won the title in the same season and broke Jordan’s previous number of 32.6 points per game output.
5. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs (2002-03)
After winning the second of back-to-back NBA MVPs, Tim Duncan led the San Antonio Spurs to the title. San Antonio knocked out the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, and Dallas Mavericks before seeing off the New Jersey Nets in the Finals.
Duncan put in an all-time performance in the clinching Game 6 of the Finals, registering 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, and eight blocks.
6. Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers (1999-2000)
Shaquille O’Neal started the Lakers’ three-peat off with NBA MVP and Finals MVP in 1999-2000. Finishing third for the regular-season award in the following two years, Big Diesel wasn’t far off repeating this feat.
O’Neal and Kobe Bryant were one of the NBA’s greatest star pairings. They could have won many more titles together if their relationship hadn’t broken down in the early 2000s.
7. Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets (1993-94)
In 1993-94, Hakeem Olajuwon became the first player in NBA history to win MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP.
To this day, Olajuwon is the only player to have achieved this feat. The Dream had a mix of size and fluidity that made him unguardable in the post, while his strength, anticipation, and fast hands contributed to him becoming a generational defensive player.
8. Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers (1986-87)
At the height of the rivalry between the Celtics and Lakers, Magic Johnson delivered the best season of his Hall of Fame career.
Having led the league in assists while scoring 23.9 points per game, Magic starred for the Lakers throughout the playoffs. Los Angeles went 11-1 in the Western Conference before beating the Celtics in six games.
9. Moses Malone, Philadelphia 76ers (1982-83)
Trading for Moses Malone in 1982 made the Philadelphia 76ers one of the favourites in NBA championship odds. Malone won the second of his three regular-season MVPs in the 1981-82 campaign.
In the 1983 postseason, Philly was unstoppable. The 76ers went 12-1, including a four-game sweep of the Lakers in the Finals.
10. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee Bucks (1970-71)
Finals MVP was first awarded in 1969. By 1971, two of the three winners had won the regular-season MVP in the same season.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the first of his six regular-season MVP awards in his second season in the league. Paired with Hall of Fame point guard Oscar Robertson, Kareem guided the Milwaukee Bucks to their first title in franchise history, as he became the second player to win NBA MVP and Finals MVP in the same season.
11. Willis Reed, New York Knicks (1969-70)
Willis Reed led the New York Knicks to their first championship in 1970.
In the process, Reed became the first player to win regular-season MVP and Finals MVP in the same season.
