SUMMARY
- In NBA history, only three players have achieved Most Valuable Player (MVP) award three times in a row,
- Bill Russell achieved amassed a total of five MVP awards in his illustrious career, the most in NBA history.
In the NBA, there are numerous awards and titles to recognize the hard work and extraordinary performances of the players. One of them is the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award which is rewarded one time in the league’s season. This was initially started in the 1955-56 season, and since then there have been 12 players who have won NBA MVP awards in two consecutive seasons.
However, only three players in the history of the league have won this prestigious award three times in a row. All three of them have also earned a spot on the list of best players in the NBA. They have ruled different eras and left an ever-lasting impact. Without further ado, let’s have a look at the NBA players who have won the MVP title three times in a row.
Bill Russell
The first to ever enter this exclusive list was Bill Russell. He won his first MVP award in 1960, and then another two back-to-back. Notably, his total MVP awards stand at a staggering five which is the most in the history of the NBA. This accomplishment left everyone stunned and Russell became the talk of the town. His record remains unbroken for a couple of years.
Most Triple Doubles in the Finals
Only Player to Score 40 vs 30 teams
Highest scoring average in szn 18, 19, 20, 21
Only him & Bill Russell won MVP 4 times in 5 yrs
1st to average 25 7 & 7 @ 20 yrs old (Luka 2nd)
Should have won DPOY in 2013
Greatest Prospect Ever pic.twitter.com/HYap5YkIO4
— James 🇩🇴 (@jamesmartinezny) December 29, 2023
Notably, he debuted in the league in 1956 after being picked by the St. Louis Hawks. However, he was traded to the Boston Celtics before he played his first game. His playing career lasted for 13 years, and interestingly, he won eleven NBA championships during this. In addition to this, he has 11 All-NBA, won the Olympic Gold Medal once, was named All-Defensive Team once, and much more.
Wilt Chamberlain
The second one on the list of NBA players who have won MVP title three times in a row is Wilt Chamberlain. His MVP three-peat was from 1965-68 and is one of his best accomplishments. He and Russell were the only two players to hold this record for more than a decade. Notably, some of the other records of Chamberlain are NBA Rookie of the Year, Hall of Fame Inductee, and much more.
Over his 14-year-long career, Chamberlain played for three different teams, the Lakers, Warriors, and 76ers. He played 1045 games, wherein he had an average score of 30.1 points, 22.9 total rebounds, and 4.4 assists. The world, unfortunately, lost such a remarkable player in 1999 at the age of 63 because of congestive heart failure.
Larry Bird
Last but not least is Larry Bird who won MVP awards three times in a row from 1983. No one has been able to take the fourth position on the list yet. Bird is undeniably among one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA. He debuted in 1979 after being picked by the Boston Celtics. Bird left everyone stunned with his very first game as he led the team to a 114-106 victory and ultimately won Rookie of the Year.
Larry Bird was No Joke… pic.twitter.com/K9MGZCWc48
— Bethany King (@BrkWhileUBake) December 23, 2023
Furthermore, over his 13-year-long career, he was loyal to the Celtics and took them to greater heights. He won numerous awards and recognitions that further strengthened his status of being a great player. Some of these include the 7x NBA Player of the Month title, won Olympic Gold Medal once, and much more. Now, fans await to see who will be the fourth player to win MVP 3 times in a row.