Winning MVP No. 2: How players fared in playoffs in second MVP run
Giannis Antetokounmpo was already in elite company in winning the Kia MVP in 2018-19, becoming the first Bucks player to win the award since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1973-74. Antetokounmpo also tied Steve Nash (No. 15 pick in 1996) as the lowest-drafted player to win MVP honors (Antetokounmpo was the No. 15 pick of the 2013 draft).
He joins a whole new group of NBA legends in winning his second career NBA MVP. Abdul-Jabbar, Nash, Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Tim Duncan, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Moses Malone, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell and Bob Pettit also all won two (or more) MVPs in their Hall of Fame careers.
Antetokounmpo, however, has yet to reach a NBA Finals and his Milwaukee Bucks were eliminated by the Miami Heat in the semifinals of the 2020 playoffs.
Here’s a look back at how each player’s team fared in the playoffs in his second MVP season.
| Player | Team | First MVP | Playoff result | Second MVP | Playoff result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Pettit | Hawks | 1955-56 | Lost to Pistons in West finals | 1958-59 | Lost to Lakers in West finals |
| Bill Russell | Celtics | 1957-58 | Lost in Hawks in The Finals | 1960-61 | Won NBA championship |
| Wilt Chamberlain | Warriors | 1959-60 | Lost to Celtics in East finals | 1965-66 | Lost to Celtics in East finals |
| Kareem Abdul Jabbar | Bucks | 1970-71 | Won NBA championship | 1971-72 | Lost to Lakers in West finals |
| Moses Malone | Rockets | 1978-79 | Lost to Hawks in first round | 1981-82 | Lost to Sonics in first round |
| Larry Bird | Celtics | 1983-84 | Won NBA championship | 1984-85 | Lost to Lakers in The Finals |
| Magic Johnson | Lakers | 1986-87 | Won NBA championship | 1988-89 | Lost to Pistons in The Finals |
| Michael Jordan | Bulls | 1987-88 | Lost to Pistons in East semifinals | 1990-91 | Won NBA championship |
| Karl Malone | Jazz | 1996-97 | Lost to Bulls in The Finals | 1998-99 | Lost to Blazers in West semifinals |
| Tim Duncan | Spurs | 2001-02 | Lost to Lakers in West semifinals | 2002-03 | Won NBA championship |
| Steve Nash | Suns | 2004-05 | Lost to Spurs in West finals | 2005-06 | Lost to Mavs in West finals |
| LeBron James | Cavs | 2008-09 | Lost to Magic in East finals | 2009-10 | Lost to Celtics in East semifinals |
| Stephen Curry | Warriors | 2014-15 | Won NBA championship | 2015-16 | Lost to Cavs in The Finals |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Bucks | 2018-19 | Lost to Raptors in East finals | 2019-20 | Lost to Heat in East semifinals |
And, of course, championship rings are always on the minds of fans. Here’s a look at when each two-time (or more) MVP won (or didn’t win) his first NBA title after securing an NBA MVP trophy.
| Player | Number of MVPs | Teams (Number of times) | First NBA title after winning MVP (Team) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Pettit | 2 | St. Louis Hawks | 1957-58 (Hawks) |
| Bill Russell * | 5 | Boston Celtics | 1960-61 (Celtics) |
| Wilt Chamberlain | 4 | Philadelphia Warriors (1), Philadelphia 76ers (3) | 1971-72 (Lakers) |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar * | 6 | Milwaukee Bucks (2), Los Angeles Lakers (4) | 1970-71 (Bucks) |
| Moses Malone * | 3 | Houston Rockets (2), Philadelphia 76ers (1) | 1982-83 (76ers) |
| Larry Bird* | 3 | Boston Celtics | 1983-84 (Celtics) |
| Magic Johnson* | 3 | Los Angeles Lakers | 1986-87 (Lakers) |
| Michael Jordan * | 5 | Chicago Bulls | 1990-91 (Bulls) |
| Karl Malone | 2 | Utah Jazz | Never won NBA championship |
| Tim Duncan * | 2 | San Antonio Spurs | 2002-03 (Spurs) |
| Steve Nash | 2 | Phoenix Suns | Never won NBA championship |
| LeBron James * | 4 | Cleveland Cavaliers (2), Miami Heat (2) | 2011-12 (Heat) |
| Stephen Curry * | 2 | Golden State Warriors | 2014-15 (Warriors) |
| * = was MVP & Finals MVP in same season |
