NBA MVP Awards that Went to the Wrong Player

Award voting is an imperfect process, and that subjectivity has resulted in a head-turning choice for NBA MVP on occasion.

In most seasons, even a controversial winner is an understandable one. That sentence, more than anything, is the qualifier I hope you consider in this piece. There is a big difference between questionable and undeserving, and no one listed meets the latter definition.

Nevertheless, some MVPs are worth a debate in hindsight.

There is a bright side, though. One of the most disputed MVPs ended up being rectified one year later—in the same fashion.

Dave Cowens (1972-73)

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BOSTON - 1973: Dave Cowens #18 of the Boston Celtics shoots a jump shot during a game played in 1973 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1973 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)

Great player on a great team? The logic works.

Dave Cowens averaged 20.5 points, 16.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Boston Celtics, who collected an NBA-best 68 wins—which was then tied for second-most in a season in league history.

But it's not like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had been piling up empty stats for a mediocre team.

In fact, he propelled the Milwaukee Bucks to a 60-22 record with 30.2 points, 16.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists per night. Abdul-Jabbar should have won his third consecutive MVP.

The award, nevertheless, is a valuable part of what became a Hall of Fame resume for Cowens, an inductee in the 1991 class.

Bill Walton (1977-78)

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PORTLAND - 1978: Bill Walton #32 of the Portland Trailblazers sits on the bench during an NBA game in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ken Regan/NBAE via Getty Images)

Applying modern rules to a past era isn't necessarily fair. For comparison, though, award eligibility in 2023-24 includes a minimum requirement of playing in 65 games.

Bill Walton entered 58 contests in 1977-78.

Again, today's regulation is not the driving force here. The point is that Walton appeared in 71 percent of the 82 games.

Without question, the Portland Trail Blazers posting an NBA-high 58 wins aided his case. He collected 18.9 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.5 blocks per outing.

George Gervin and David Thompson each scored a league-high 27.2 points per game, though. Both the Gervin-led San Antonio Spurs and Thompson's Denver Nuggets won division titles as the former appeared in all 82 games and the latter checked in at 80.

Walton was excellent. Availability should have mattered, too.

Karl Malone (1996-97)

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SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MAY 20: Karl Malone #32 of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait on his Motor cycle after winning the 1997 MVP award on May 30, 1997 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1997 NBAE (Photo by Andy Hayt/NBAE via Getty Images)

Quantifying voting fatigue—a hesitance to vote for the same player over and over again—is not easily done.

Yet there's no doubt it's a real thing.

One of the best examples happened in 1996-97 when the MVP went to Utah Jazz superstar Karl Malone. He assembled a tremendous season with 27.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.

Michael Jordan was still Michael Jordan, though. He provided 29.6 points, 4.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game, propelling the Chicago Bulls to 69 wins in the season immediately after the franchise set an NBA record with 72 victories. MJ absolutely deserved yet another MVP.

But, hey, Jordan hoisted the trophy that matters most and defeated Malone's Jazz to claim that NBA title.

Michael Jordan (1997-98)

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 20: David Benoit #2 of the New Jersey Nets defends Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls during a game played on December 20, 1997 at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1997 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Ironically enough, the Mailman had a stronger case during the 1997-98 season but fell short of Jordan in the voting.

While win shares don't tell a complete story—and advanced metrics like these weren't a consideration at the time—MJ's 18.3 beat Malone's 16.7 one year earlier. In this campaign, Malone's 16.4 edged Jordan's 15.8.

It's almost as if voters recognized a mistake and balanced the scale.

Both the Bulls and Jazz finished 62-20, so team success was a wash. Malone averaged 27.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists but didn't beat out MJ's 28.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists.

Steve Nash (2004-05 or 2005-06)

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CHICAGO - DECEMBER 31: Steve Nash #13 of the Phoenix Suns looks to pass while defended by Chris Duhon #21 of the Chicago Bulls during the NBA game on December 31, 2005 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright 2005 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)

From a fan-of-NBA-history perspective, I'm glad Steve Nash has a couple of MVPs in his trophy case. He was a ridiculously fun passer, terrific three-point shooter and the conductor of a memorable offense.

He also maybe shouldn't have the awards.

In 2004-05, Shaquille O'Neal and Dirk Nowitzki had great seasons for the 59-23 Miami Heat and 58-24 Dallas Mavericks, respectively. Shaq averaged 22.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.3 blocks, while Dirk poured in 26.1 points per game with 9.7 boards and 3.1 assists.

Nash, however, recorded 15.5 points and 11.5 assists for the Suns, who stood atop the league with 62 wins.

One year later, Nash repeated as MVP with 18.8 points and 10.5 assists per game for 58-win Phoenix. LeBron James—at 21 years old—racked up 31.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists, lifting the Cleveland Cavaliers to a first 50-win season in 13 years. (Oh, and Kobe Bryant torched teams for 35.4 points per game.)

Shaq, Dirk and LeBron all earned MVPs, so at least Nash's debatable honors didn't prevent a career-boosting moment for them.

Derrick Rose (2010-11)

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Basketball: Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose (1) during game vs Minnesota Timberwolves at United Center.Chicago, IL 12/11/2010CREDIT: John Biever (Photo by John Biever /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)(Set Number: X85143 TK1 R8 F81 )

Similar to Nash, the memory of Derrick Rose winning an MVP is enjoyable. Especially knowing the career-altering injury that soon followed, it's sort of a relief that he brought home the award once.

But you know why we're here.

In a near-unanimous vote, Rose bested Orlando Magic star Dwight Howard (and LeBron). Chicago won an NBA-leading 62 games behind Rose's 25.0 points and 7.7 assists per game—and a hellacious, top-ranked defense that atoned for his shortcomings on that end.

Howard, meanwhile, carried an injury-plagued Orlando roster to 52 wins. En route to his third straight Defensive Player of the Year honor, he averaged 22.9 points, 14.1 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.4 steals.

Rose remains the youngest MVP winner at 22 years old.