Nikola Jokic has been named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the third time in four years. He joins an exclusive club of players who won three or more MVPs that includes only eight others in NBA history. So just how well does the Joker’s four-year run stack up against the other greats’ best? Here’s a look:
Bill Russell, Celtics
Years: 1959-1963
The stats: 17.7 points, 23.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 47.5 TS%, .198 WS/48, 306 games, 13,537 minutes
The honors: 3x MVP, 4x NBA champion, 1x All-NBA First Team, 3x All-NBA Second Team
Much like his rival, Wilt Chamberlain, the challenge with Russell is picking which four-year run is his apex — and with limited numbers to do so. The NBA didn’t count blocks or steals and didn’t select an All-Defensive team during his time. Nor was there player tracking data or advanced numbers that could account for things like his one-on-one defense. Still, Russell leads in the stat that matters: four championships in four years, which was part of a run of eight straight from 1959 to ’66. Nobody touches that.
Wilt Chamberlain, 76ers/Lakers
Years: 1965-1969
The stats: 25.6 points, 23.4 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 57.2 TS%, .252 WS/48, 323 games, 14,924 minutes played
The honors: 3x MVP, 1x NBA champion, 3x All-NBA First Team, 1x scoring champion, 4x rebounding champion
Again, good luck picking out which four-year run was Wilt’s best. Certainly, he had better stretches in terms of scoring (42.9 points/game from 1959-63). But this particular four-year window in the late ’60s is notable for a few reasons. First, he won three straight MVPs from 1966 to ’68. Second, he became one of the game’s most accomplished passers. His minutes-played numbers are incredible, especially in an era when players flew commercial on the road. Wilt missed five games during this period. Total.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bucks
Years: 1970-74
The stats: 30.9 points, 15.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 58.9 TS%, .309 WS/48, 320 games, 13,673 minutes
The honors: 3x MVP, 1x NBA champion, 1x Finals MVP, 4x All-NBA First Team, 2x All-Defense (1x First Team), 2x scoring champion
The best run of Kareem’s career is missing some context. The NBA didn’t count blocks and steals until the 1973-74 season, and he led the league in blocks/game four times after that. Still, his win shares per 48 minutes — an advanced stat that attempts to quantify a player’s overall impact on winning — is the best of any player in this group. Five of his six NBA championships came later, but helping Oscar Robertson win one in Milwaukee deserves a tip of the cap.
Moses Malone, Rockets/76ers
Years: 1979-1983
The stats: 27.3 points, 14.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 57.5 TS%, .212 WS/48, 3.4 BPM, 321 games, 12,705 minutes
The honors: 2x MVP, 1x NBA champion, 1x Finals MVP, 2x All-NBA First Team, 2x All-NBA Second Team, 1x All-Defense (First Team), 3x rebounding champion.
Less celebrated than his contemporaries, the 6-foot-10 Malone was easily the most dominant rebounder of his era and a load in the paint. While his advanced stats trail nearly everyone on this list, this particular four-year run saw him nab two of his three MVP awards, culminating with the “Fo’ Fo’ Fo’” 76ers rampaging to an NBA championship. The center opposite him in those NBA Finals that ended in a four-game sweep? Some guy named Kareem.
Larry Bird, Celtics
Years: 1983-1987
The stats: 26.6 points, 9.9 rebounds. 6.9 assists, 58.2 TS%, .235 WS/48, 8.6 BPM, 315 games, 12,307 minutes
The honors: 3x MVP, 2x NBA champion, 2x Finals MVP, 4x All-NBA First Team, 1x All-Defense (Second Team)
Bird became just the third player in NBA history to win three straight MVPs during this four-year stretch — a feat that hasn’t been accomplished since. This period is, of course, defined by Bird’s rivalry with Magic Johnson, with the Celtics and Lakers meeting three times in the NBA Finals and Magic’s Lakers coming out on top twice. It’s been argued that the 1985-86 Celtics — 67-15, 40-1 at home — represent the greatest team in NBA history. That was also the last of the Legend’s three MVPs.
Magic Johnson, Lakers
Years: 1986-1990
The stats: 22.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 12.1 assists, 60.8 TS%, .251 WS/48, 8.6 BPM, 308 games, 11,364 minutes.
The honors: 3x MVP, 2x NBA champion, 1x Finals MVP, 4x All-NBA First Team, 1x assist champion.
The other half of one of the NBA’s great rivalries, Magic assumed control of the NBA by the latter half of the 1980s. At this point, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was on the tail end of his career, and Magic was entering his prime with three MVP awards in four seasons (Michael Jordan won the other). Known for his ability to orchestrate an offense, he was the NBA’s assist leader just once over this four-year run, but his scoring peaked as he became an efficient shooter who was near automatic at the free-throw line (87.6%).
Michael Jordan, Bulls
Years: 1989-1993
The stats: 31.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 58.8 TS%, .287 WS/48, 11.1 BPM, 322 games, 12,400 minutes
The honors: 2x MVP, 3x NBA champion, 3x Finals MVP, 4x All-NBA First Team, 4x All-Defense (First Team), 4x scoring champion
Had Jordan played four full seasons around his second three-peat, there might be a debate over which is his best four-year span. Even then, probably not. Not only did Jordan claim the first of two three-peats during this stretch, but he was also the scoring champ all four seasons and All-Defense all four seasons while twice leading the league in steals and games played. Throw in his playoff numbers (34.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 50.1% shooting over 74 games) and this run is unassailable.
LeBron James, Cavaliers/Heat
Years: 2009-2013
The stats: 27.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 61.0 TS%, .290 WS/48, 10.6 BPM, 293 games, 11,232 minutes
The honors: 3x MVP, 2x NBA champion, 2x Finals MVP, 4x All-NBA First Team, 4x All-Defense (First Team)
The ascent of King James begins here, when LeBron made “The Decision” and broke Cavaliers fans’ hearts by taking his talents to South Beach. The efficiency and two-way consistency speak volumes as a four-time All-NBA and All-Defense selection. But playoff pitfalls — a 4-2 Celtics series loss to end his first Cleveland stint, and an NBA Finals no-show vs. the Mavs in 2010-11 — haunt this period of LeBron’s career. Oddly enough, he hasn’t won another MVP since claiming No. 4 in 2012-13.
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
Years: 2020-2024
The stats: 26.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, 8.7 assists, 66.3 TS%, .301 WS/48, 13.0 BPM, 294 games, 10,024 minutes
The honors: 3x MVP, 1x NBA champion*, 1x NBA Finals MVP*, 3x All-NBA First Team, 1x All-NBA Second Team
An argument could be made that this four-year stretch is as good or better than any in NBA history. Ignore, for a moment, that Jokic fell one spot shy of becoming the first player to win four straight NBA MVP awards (thanks, Joel Embiid). Instead focus on the advanced stats. Jokic’s 66.3 true shooting percentage is the best of the lot. His win shares per 48 trails only Kareem. And his Box Plus/Minus (BPM) number is easily the best — although that obviously doesn’t include Wilt, Russell or Kareem. Simply put, Jokic has been no joke.
Source: basketball-reference.com
Want more Nuggets news? Sign up for the Nuggets Insider to get all our NBA analysis.
