Which NBA players have won the most ESPYs for ‘Best NBA Player?’ Lebron, Curry, Jordan, who else?
When you’ve got a list that includes the likes of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant, you’ve gotta be something special to lead the way.
One of the bigger awards of the night is that of ‘Best NBA Player,’ but who’s won the most over the awards’ thirty-year history? Let’s find out!
The ESPY winners with the most ‘Best NBA Player’ awards
When the ESPYs roll around, there’s always extra special attention paid to the award for the ‘Best NBA Player.’ Given to the player deemed to be the best in the league that year, it’s an award that often - though not always - mirrors the vote for the league’s own MVP. In case you’d like to know who’s won the most ESPYs for best player in the NBA, we’ve compiled a list so you don’t have to. Enjoy!
With an extensive list of talented names across the last three decades in the NBA, you could be forgiven if you don’t see the name of your favorite player in the list, but on the other hand it would be hard to argue with the names that you will see. Keep in mind that just 14 players have won the award since the first edition of the ESPYs back in 1993 so without any further delay let’s take a look at just who they were and in what year(s) they won:
| Player | No. of ESPYS | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeBron James | 7 | 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018 | |
| Michael Jordan | 4 | 1993, 1997, 1998,1999 | |
| Stephen Curry | 3 | 2015,2021, 2022 | |
| Kobe Bryant | 2 | 2008, 2010 |
While LeBron James tops the list, one could easily argue that had the awards started a few years earlier, Michael Jordan - the GOAT himself - would have picked up more. That being said, ‘King James’ should be acknowledged for the 7 that he’s got under his belt, as it was surely no easy feat.
‘King James’ reigns supreme in the ESPYs
With an awards panel that is comprised of broadcasters, sportswriters and various experts in the field of professional basketball, the ESPY award for ‘Best NBA Play’ is no trivial thing. Indeed, free from the bias and partiality that most fans would be influenced by, there is in fact a great deal of legitimacy when it comes to the awarding of the coveted award NBA related ESPY. With his first win coming back in 2007, James was at the time the backbone of the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team that he led to the NBA Finals after just three years in the league. Two years would pass before he would receive the award again, though it was probably with a heavy heart that year as his team had been eliminated by the Orlando Magic in the NBA Conference Finals.
James would again take center stage in 2012 and 2013 on the back of two consecutive NBA titles. Yet that pales in comparison to the fact that he pulled off a three peat at the ESPYs, following consecutive title wins in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Indeed, James singlehandedly led the Cleveland Cavaliers to glory. After James, there is only the legend himself Michael Jordan who can compare. During the dynasty years of the Chicago Bulls Mike won the award on four occasions: 1993, 1997, 1998, and 1999. Aside from Jordan, only Steph Curry - with his win last night - has taken home the award on more than two occasions. no other player has won the award more than twice. Tim Duncan, the late Kobe Bryant and Hakeem Olajuwon have all won it two times, while Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki have won it only once.