Most Valuable Player

The NBA's Most Valuable Player award is given annually to the top player in the league, though there's considerable debate as to what "most valuable" really means. Is it simply the best player? Or the player who does the best job of elevating his teammates to new heights?

One thing is certain: win the MVP, and a trip to the Hall of Fame is sure to follow. Every winner from Bob Pettit in 1956 to Karl Malone in 1997 has been voted into the Hall; the only MVPs that haven't been enshrined in Springfield simply aren't eligible yet.

2011-12 MVP: LeBron James

Apparently voters could only hold a grudge against LeBron James for so long. James was named MVP for the third time in four years, joining an elite list of three-time winners that includes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Moses Malone.

Most Valuable MVP

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the record for most MVP awards with six. Michael Jordan and Bill Russell won five times and Wilt Chamberlain four. With the 2010 honor, LeBron James became the tenth player to win back-to-back MVPs, and the first since Steve Nash in 2005 and 2006.

The Selection Process

Since 1980, the MVP has been selected by a panel of media members, with each NBA city and the national media playing a role. In 2010, for the first time, fans will have a voice in the proceeding; the fan vote will count as one of the 125 ballots.

The vote takes place immediately after the regular season; playoff performance doesn't factor in.

MVP Trivia

• The actual award given to the MVP is called the "Maurice Podoloff Trophy" and is named for the NBA's first commissioner.
• Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki are the only foreign-born players to be named MVP.
• Chamberlain and Wes Unseld are the only rookies to be named MVP.

NBA MVPs

2011-12: LeBron James - Miami
2010-11: Derrick Rose - Chicago
2009-10: LeBron James - Cleveland
2008-09: LeBron James - Cleveland
2007-08: Kobe Bryant - Los Angeles Lakers
2006-07: Dirk Nowitzki - Dallas
2005-06: Steve Nash - Phoenix
2004-05: Steve Nash - Phoenix
2003-04: Kevin Garnett - Minnesota
2002-03: Tim Duncan - San Antonio
2001-02: Tim Duncan - San Antonio
2000-01: Allen Iverson - Philadelphia
1999-00: Shaquille O'Neal - Los Angeles Lakers
1998-99: Karl Malone - Utah
1997-98: Michael Jordan - Chicago
1996-97: Karl Malone - Utah
1995-96: Michael Jordan - Chicago
1994-95: David Robinson - San Antonio
1993-94: Hakeem Olajuwon - Houston
1992-93: Charles Barkley - Phoenix
1991-92: Michael Jordan - Chicago
1990-91: Michael Jordan - Chicago
1989-90: Magic Johnson - Los Angeles Lakers
1988-89: Magic Johnson - Los Angeles Lakers
1987-88: Michael Jordan - Chicago
1986-87: Magic Johnson - Los Angeles Lakers
1985-86: Larry Bird - Boston
1984-85: Larry Bird - Boston
1983-84: Larry Bird - Boston
1982-83: Moses Malone - Philadelphia
1981-82: Moses Malone - Houston
1980-81: Julius Erving - Philadelphia
1979-80: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Los Angeles
1978-79: Moses Malone - Houston
1977-78: Bill Walton - Portland
1976-77: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Los Angeles
1975-76: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Los Angeles
1974-75: Bob McAdoo - Buffalo
1973-74: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Milwaukee
1972-73: Dave Cowens - Boston
1971-72: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Milwaukee
1970-71: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Milwaukee
1969-70: Willis Reed - New York
1968-69: Wes Unseld - Baltimore
1967-68: Wilt Chamberlain - Philadelphia
1966-67: Wilt Chamberlain - Philadelphia
1965-66: Wilt Chamberlain - Philadelphia
1964-65: Bill Russell - Boston
1963-64: Oscar Robertson - Cincinnati
1962-63: Bill Russell - Boston
1961-62: Bill Russell - Boston
1960-61: Bill Russell - Boston
1959-60: Wilt Chamberlain - Philadelphia
1958-59: Bob Pettit - St. Louis
1957-58: Bill Russell - Boston
1956-57: Bob Cousy - Boston
1955-56: Bob Pettit - St. Louis