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Karl Malone and Michael Jordan are the only players in NBA history to win MVP after turning 35.
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The MVP award is one of the highest honors a player can receive in the NBA. The award used to be decided by players and members of the media. For the 2022-23 season, the media membership is comprised of many former NBA players who have voting rights, making the award more credible than if it were voted by the media alone. One of the many goals of every player entering their NBA career is to be crowned MVP at the end of the season, illustrating their hard work during that particular season.
Some NBA players have not been named MVP throughout their careers, while others have won the award early in their careers. What about those who win MVP at the end of their careers? These players were valuable on the field even in their earlier days. Today, we count down the season in which the oldest player ever was named MVP, delving into that season and the story and production that led to winning the award. The names below won’t come as too much of a surprise to our readers, but some may be shocked by their place on the list.
These are the oldest MVP winners in NBA history.
NOTE: Players’ ages are calculated based on the date their MVP regular season ends
10. Julius Erwin – 31 years and 37 days
Image credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
1980-81 MVP stats: 24.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.1 steals, 1.8 blocks
Julius Erving, aka Dr. J, is one of the most recognizable names in NBA history. With his signature afro and high-flying style of play, Irving inspired many NBA legends after him. After being drafted 12th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1972, Irving turned down the NBA to join the newly formed ABA, where he spent five seasons before entering the NBA with the 76ers. Irving performed well in his first 4 seasons in Philadelphia, leading the team deep into the playoffs and competing for the NBA championship.
His fifth season in the NBA will be one of the most successful of his career. Irving was named the 1981 MVP with 24.6 points and 8.0 rebounds while playing elite defense on the other side of the ball. That season, the 76ers’ record was 62=20. Under the leadership of Irving, they ranked fourth among the players with the most points in the NBA. He’ll have 38 games with 20-29 points and 21 games with 30-39 points. Irving averaged 19.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.4 blocks in the 76ers’ Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Celtics in seven games.
9. Steve Nash – 31 years, 72 days
Photo credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
2004-05 MVP stats: 15.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 11.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.1 blocks
In the 2000s, Steve Nash barely challenged for the title of best point guard in the NBA. Nash is an organizational genius. From 2005 to 2007, he led the NBA in assists three times in a row. Nash is the strongest offensive general in the NBA. The Phoenix Suns averaged 110.4 points per game this season, the most in the NBA. It all started with Nash, who elevated his game alongside players like Ammar Stoudemire and Shawn Marion.
In Nash’s first MVP season, the Suns finished their run offense with a 62-20 record under head coach Mike D’Antoni. Nash was never a scorer, nor did he need to be, and it showed during his time with the Suns. In his MVP season, Nash scored between 10 and 19 points in 40 games and only 21 games with more than 20 points. Nash’s impact comes down to his distribution, as he had 59 games with 10 or more assists in 2004-05 and won his first assists title with 11.5 APG. This is Nash’s first MVP award, but as we all know, he’s not done yet.
8. Hakeem Olajuwon – 31 years and 93 days
Image credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
1993-94 MVP stats: 27.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals, 3.7 blocks
Hakeem Olajuwon has been called one of the greatest centers of all time. At the very least, he’s a top 2 defender in league history and has some of the best post footwork in the game. Olajuwon was unique in the way he impacted the Houston Rockets in the 1990s, culminating in 1994 with one of the greatest single seasons of all time.
Let’s start with his defense. Olajuwon has at least one block in 77 of his 80 games. Additionally, he recorded 28 games with at least 5 blocks. You read that right. He also recorded 66 games with at least 1 steal, mostly deflected on low post passes. Offensively, he has 70 games with 20 points and 26 games with at least 30 points this season. He also led the Rockets to the NBA Finals, where he won Finals MVP, adding to his MVP and second Defensive Player of the Year awards. Olajuwon was just over 31 when he did it, making it one of the best MVP seasons you’ll see on this entire list.
7. Wilt Chamberlain – 31 years and 207 days
Image credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
1967-68 MVP stats: 24.3 points, 23.8 rebounds, 8.6 assists
Wilt Chamberlain is one of the greatest athletes and most dominant players in NBA history. Chamberlain stood out from the game while possessing power, speed and skill far ahead of his time. We all know Chamberlain is a scoring and rebounding machine who rewrote records during his career with the Warriors, 76ers and Lakers. In 1968, with the 76ers, Chamberlain added another dimension to his game that propelled him toward immortality.
In the 1967-68 season, Chamberlain had just won his first NBA championship. Not only did he record over 20.0 PPG and 20.0 RPG in 1968, but he also recorded a career-high 8.6 APG. He recorded 32 games with at least 10 assists, and he even recorded more than 20 assists in one game. He had five 40-point games and four 50-point games that season. Chamberlain, as always, won the title of rebounding leader with 65 games of more than 20 rebounds. Without recording defensive numbers, it’s safe to say this is one of the best seasons ever. Wilt and the Sixers lost to the Celtics in seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals.
6. Steve Nash – 32 years, 72 days
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee – USA TODAY Sports
2005-06 MVP stats: 18.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.2 blocks
Steve Nash is on our list for the second time today, having won two consecutive MVPs in the 2000s. Nash returned in 2006 and had a better season than 2005, but the Suns lost eight more games than in 2005 and finished with a 54-28 record. The up-tempo offense remains the top scoring offense in basketball at 108.4 points per game, and they also finished second in scoring offense that season. Nash would lead the Suns to the Western Conference Finals, where they would lose to the Dallas Mavericks in six games.
Breaking down Nash’s second MVP season is incredible. Nash scored a career-high 18.8 points that season and was a member of the 50/40/90 club, which leads the NBA in free throw percentage. He played 79 games and scored 20 or more points in 39 of them. Once again, his playmaking was supreme and he claimed another assists title. He has at least 10 assists in 45 of 79 games and 10 games with 15 or more assists. Some may disagree that he was voted MVP, but when broken down this way, it’s well deserved.
5. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 32 years, 244 days
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1979-80 MVP stats: 24.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 3.4 blocks
The next oldest MVP on our list is the most MVP winner in NBA history, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The 1980 Lakers were distinguished by the combination of Kareem and super rookie Magic Johnson. The Lakers won 60 games in the season Kareem won his sixth MVP and the NBA title later that year. Magic won the Finals MVP that season, and he deserves a lot of credit, but they wouldn’t have gotten to this point without Kareem.
Abdul-Jabbar always thinks first of his scoring. He recorded 67 games of at least 20 points and 17 games of at least 30 points that season. He had 1 40-point game, but again, the Showtime Lakers were born in 1980, paving the way for others to get more involved. Kareem was also known for his defense, which was on full display in the 1980 shot-blocking championship. Kareem has 77 games with at least 1 block and 51 games with at least 3 blocks. He also recorded an astonishing 23 games with at least five blocks, making him, at just 32 years old, one of the most feared defenders in the league.
4. Michael Jordan – 33 years, 64 days
Image credit: Matthew Emmons – USA TODAY Sports
1995-96 MVP stats: 30.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.5 blocks
The next oldest MVP season was done by the same 2 players. In the 1995-96 season, Michael Jordan returned to the NBA for the first time since retiring in 1993 and returning in 1995. Jordan led the Bulls to a historic season, sweeping the season with a 72-10 record. They then went on to win their fourth NBA title, led by GOAT, and cap off one of the best seasons in NBA history, which is probably the best considering they hold the best record of an NBA championship-winning team. best season ever.
Jordan had an excellent season, averaging 30.4 points per game and winning his eighth career scoring title. Jordan scored 30 or more points in 48 games this season and 40 or more in nine games. What’s particularly notable this season is Jordan’s two-way offense. He recorded 36 games with at least 3 steals and 32 games with at least 1 block. Did I mention he’s a shooting guard? The 4th oldest MVP season in NBA history might just be one of the best in NBA history.
3. Karl Malone – 33 years, 267 days
Image credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
1996-97 MVP stats: 27.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.6 blocks
Karl Malone’s first MVP award came in his 12th season in the NBA, but I guess that’s what happens when you’re competing in the same era as the greatest basketball player of all time. Malone’s consistency as a scorer led to him retiring second on the NBA’s all-time scoring list (now third) and the leading scorer of the ’90s. Malone and the Utah Jazz would win 64 games and earn a spot in the NBA Finals in 1996-97, but they lost in six games to the Bulls. Jordan took his MVP snub personally.
Malone’s 1997 MVP season was a power forward masterclass. Malone has 72 games with at least 20 points, 33 games with at least 30 points and 3 games with 40 or more points. In addition, he had 43 games with at least 10 rebounds and eight games with at least 15 rebounds. One of the most surprising statistics from Malone’s 1997 MVP season came from his defense. He recorded 66 games with at least 1 steal and 14 games with at least 3 steals. He also recorded 32 games with at least 1 block and 4 games with at least 3 blocks.
2. Michael Jordan – 35 years and 61 days
Image Credit: USA TODAY Sports
1997-98 MVP stats: 28.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.5 blocks
The 2nd oldest MVP season in MVP history is also Michael Jordan’s 5th MVP Award and his 6th and final NBA Championship season. With a year to go and the Bulls’ dominant core of Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and Phil Jackson, Jordan decided it was time to step into the sunset in the best possible way. With the numbers he produced, the Bulls went on to win 62 games and beat the Utah Jazz again in the NBA Finals.
In 1998, Jordan dominated the NBA again. He earned his…
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