NBA Season MVPs That Never Won a Title
This is the complete list of NBA players that won the Season MVP award at least once but didn't win a championship during their careers.
Players without titles: Season MVPs / others...
Of the 36 players that have ever won the Season MVP award, only 8 never won an NBA title during their careers (22.2%). Some of them are current players and still have a chance to do it. The other 28 players won at least one ring. This award has been given 69 times since it was established in 1956.
Among those who never won a championship, Karl Malone and Steve Nash are the players who won the most Season MVP awards.
NBA Season MVPs That Never Won a Title
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Player |
Season MVP |
Total Seasons |
Playoffs | Playoff Games |
| Karl Malone | 2 times |
19 1986 to 2004 |
19 | 193 |
| Steve Nash | 2 times |
18 1997 to 2014 |
12 | 120 |
| Charles Barkley | 1 time |
16 1985 to 2000 |
13 | 123 |
| Russell Westbrook | 1 time |
16 2009 to 2024 |
13 | 122 |
| James Harden | 1 time |
15 2010 to 2024 |
15 | 166 |
| Derrick Rose | 1 time |
15 2009 to 2024 |
8 | 52 |
| Allen Iverson | 1 time |
14 1997 to 2010 |
8 | 71 |
| Joel Embiid | 1 time |
8 2017 to 2024 |
7 | 59 |
Playoff performance in their Season MVP years:
| Season MVP | ||
| Karl Malone | 2 times | |
|
1997 - Jazz, Lost NBA Finals
1999 - Jazz, Lost West Conf Semis | ||
| Season MVP | ||
| Steve Nash | 2 times | |
|
2005 - Suns, Lost West Conf Finals
2006 - Suns, Lost West Conf Finals | ||
| Season MVP | ||
| Charles Barkley | 1 time | |
|
1993 - Suns, Lost NBA Finals
| ||
| Season MVP | ||
| Russell Westbrook | 1 time | |
|
2017 - Thunder, Lost West Conf 1st Rd
| ||
| Season MVP | ||
| James Harden | 1 time | |
|
2018 - Rockets, Lost West Conf Finals
| ||
| Season MVP | ||
| Derrick Rose | 1 time | |
|
2011 - Bulls, Lost East Conf Finals
| ||
| Season MVP | ||
| Allen Iverson | 1 time | |
|
2001 - 76ers, Lost NBA Finals
| ||
| Season MVP | ||
| Joel Embiid | 1 time | |
|
2023 - 76ers, Lost East Conf Semis
| ||