The NBA has always been one of the most exciting basketball championships in the world. Players have continuously strived towards a Most Valuable Player (MVP) title during the awards at the end of the season. Check out the latest NBA spreads to learn more about player predictions and recent stats.
The All-Star game is widely regarded as the toughest competition of the regular season. Ever since it was first carried out, the All-Star MVP award was given to the player who stood out for their performance and achievements.
Being chosen out of the 24 champions at the end of the All-Star game is a great honor, which makes the following players even more commendable. Here are the top five NBA players who have the most All-Star MVP awards.
Kobe Bryant – 4
Firstly, Kobe Bryant is widely regarded as one of the greatest NBA players of all time. He earned his first All-Star MVP award at the end of the 2002 season, and went on to win three more during the following All-Star games.
Having completed his 2011 All-Star game with 37 points and 14 rebounds, Bryant became the second NBA player to win four All-Star MVP titles during his career. This award was later named in his honor as a celebration of his career with the NBA.
The All-Star MVP award officially changes its name to the NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant Most Valuable Player Award in 2020.
Bob Pettit – 4
Another legend by his own right is Bob Pettit who Bryant joined on the list of players with four All-Star MVP awards. This recognition was achieved over seven years during the peak of his career, and held the record for the most MVP awards at the end of the All-Star games for almost fifty years before Kobe Bryant joined him with this achievement.
Pettit stood out for his powerful energy on the court, and his ability to score 28 points in 26 boards even though his team lost in the 1958 season. Pettit’s efforts contributed to him earning a great deal of recognition during, and after his professional basketball career had ended.
Oscar Robertson – 3
Similarly, another player who achieved a great deal during his career is Oscar Robertson. He was nicknamed ‘The Big O’, and totaled three All-Star MVP awards. Having led the league in scoring average and assists per game in the same season, Robertson won six assist titles.
Having been the first player to earn the college basketball Player of the Year award, it was renamed as the Oscar Robertson trophy in 1998. Robertson is widely regarded as an icon by many that follow the NBA, and it is believed that he shaped the league as well as the sport overall.
Robertson is not a player who should be overlooked, because he achieved a considerable amount of success and record breaks during his NBA career. It isn’t hard to understand why he was chosen as the new name for the college basketball award.
LeBron James – 3
Similarly, LeBron James became an icon during his career with the NBA. However, it was his impressive performance during the All-Star games that gained him three MVP awards at the end of these.
These were achieved at the end of the 2006, 2008, and 2016 seasons. James has four NBA championships under his belt, and has achieved huge things for the Lakers. His most recent All-Star MVP award came at the end of a grueling game where James achieved 29 points, eight assists, and ten rebounds in total.
LeBron James stands out for his immense achievements as well as his highly impressive track record. As a result, he is one of the most consistent NBA players of his time. James has never scored less than 27 points in each of his MVP-winning games.
Shaquille O’Neal – 3
Another player who achieved three All-Star MVP awards is Shaquille O’Neal. He stood out for his lighthearted nature on and off the court, and was known for bringing a smile to audience members.
O’Neal won the All-Star MVP award three times in total, at the end of the 2000, 2004, and 2009 seasons. Being able to tower over other players on the court was certainly a huge advantage for O’Neal, who measured taller than seven feet tall!
Having played with the Lakers for seven seasons, O’Neal maintained a highly illustrious career with the NBA. He defended a reputation as one of the greatest players of the century, and had three All-Star MVP awards at the end of his NBA career.
Summary
Each of the players above have achieved an enormous amount of success during their careers. Getting voted as the MVP at the end of that season’s All-Star game is certainly a huge honor. Because of this, the highest number of awards that a single player has achieved is four.
Choosing between a selection of high achieving All-Star players at the end of the season can be difficult when the standard is so high. As a result, there are few who have achieved more than three All-Star MVP awards.