The NBA's Most Valuable Player award is the highest honor a player can receive in his career. Each season, the MVP honor recognizes the player who had the most outstanding individual performances and has had the most significant impact on their team's success.
While it sounds pretty straightforward, determining the rightful MVP every year is easier said than done. That said, not all NBA stars capture the coveted award despite pulling off an exceptional season and ultimately falling into the category of players who never got the recognition they truly deserved.
Let's get to know some of them on this list.
Clyde Drexler
Having drawn comparisons to Michael Jordan during his prime, Clyde Drexler was a phenomenal player. However, he never won a single MVP honor to his name.
During his time with the Portland Trail Blazers , Drexler showcased his versatility on the court, demonstrating his remarkable scoring prowess. His smooth moves and ability to glide effortlessly to the basket gave justice to his catchy moniker, "Clyde The Glide."
In 1992, Drexler achieved the pinnacle of success in the NBA when he helped lead the Portland Trail Blazers to the NBA Finals. Although they were ultimately defeated by the Chicago Bulls, Drexler's performance throughout the season solidified his status as one of the league's elite players.
That season, Clyde averaged 25 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game. Some thought Drexler did more than enough to capture the prestigious season MVP award. Unfortunately, Jordan, his ultimate rival, did not let it happen.
After that year, Drexler was never mentioned in MVP talks again, but he won an NBA championship when he joined the Houston Rockets in 1995.
Chris Webber
Chris Webber quickly rose to fame as a standout player in the NBA following his remarkable college basketball career at the University of Michigan. He reached his peak when he joined the Sacramento Kings in 1998 and became the driving force of the team's dominance in the early 2000s.
C-Webb played the best basketball of his career in the 2000-01 season, averaging 27.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game. Despite his exceptional performances throughout the season, Webber did not win the MVP award. Instead, it was given to Philadelphia 76ers superstar Allen Iverson.
Webber may have never copped an MVP, but he still had a remarkable career. In his 15 seasons in the NBA, C-Webb collected numerous accolades and accomplishments, including five NBA All-Star selections and an All-NBA First Team nod.
Patrick Ewing
Patrick Ewing was a dominant presence inside the paint and was known for his versatile scoring, shot-blocking abilities, and rebounding prowess. Throughout his illustrious career, "Big Pat" led the New York Knicks to numerous playoff appearances and was the face of the team in the '90s.
In 1993, Ewing edged Jordan and the Bulls in the East, having led the Knicks to 60 wins to clinch the No. 1 spot in the postseason. That year, the Georgetown alum logged 24.2 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game. Some say Ewing's numbers as well as the Knicks' dominance should've made him the clear-cut MVP but instead, the league awarded it to his Western Conference counterpart Charles Barkley of the Phoenix Suns.
While Ewing's stats, individual accolades, and impact on the game speak volumes about how great he was as a player, the coveted MVP award eluded him for the rest of his career. Nevertheless, being one of the greatest centers in NBA history is a title nobody could ever take away from Ewing.
Jason Kidd
Season after season, Jason Kidd consistently excelled for his exceptional court vision, passing ability, leadership skills, and basketball IQ. His exceptional playmaking abilities saw him average double digits in points and assists and pull off triple-doubles.
In the early 2000s, J-Kidd morphed from an All-Star to the best floor general in the league. He propelled the New Jersey Nets to the Finals two years in a row (2002 and 2003). During that stretch, Kidd was playing chess while everybody else played checkers, so to speak.
Under Kidd's leadership, his teammates improved, and the Nets instilled fear in their rivals. Some thought J-Kidd was the rightful MVP in '02, but instead, the award was given to San Antonio Spurs' All-Star power forward Tim Duncan.
Indeed, it was a questionable decision at the time. In fact, even Duncan wondered why Kidd did not get it and was quoted saying, "How can he not be the MVP?" after receiving the award.
Dwyane Wade
Fans are well aware that Dwyane Wade had a legendary NBA career despite not winning a league MVP award. He is regarded as one of the greatest shooting guards in NBA history for a reason: he played like a true MVP during his prime.
D-Wade was drafted by the Miami Heat in 2003 and became an All-Star in his second year in the league. Since then, "Flash" took off and spent the next 11 years as one of the best players of his generation.
In the 2008-09 season, Wade put up MVP-like numbers, finishing the campaign with 30.2 points, 7.5 assists, five rebounds and 2.2 steals per game. Unfortunately, the MVP award was given to LeBron James, who led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a franchise record of 66 wins and 16 losses.
That season, NBA fans witnessed exemplary performances from both James and Wade. Some say D-Wade deserved the MVP award but it was LeBron who got the nod in the end.
To this day, Wade still reflects on it occasionally. Though he isn't taking anything away from Bron , he firmly believes that he, too, played like an MVP that year.
" Of course [I thought I deserve it]," Wade once said. "But I also understand why LeBron won MVP. I think they won 67 games, 62 games. He averages roughly the same, like I understand it, but like as an individual player, yeah, that was my MVP year. "
Luka Doncic
Right off the bat, Luka Doncic took the NBA by storm with his raw talent and unconventional yet exceptional style of play. "Luka Legend" has proven time and again that he is a cut above the rest with his incredible amount of triple-double performances but the basketball phenom from Slovenia has yet to win a single league MVP award to his name.
Doncic was rightfully named the NBA's Rookie of the Year in 2019, becoming the youngest player to win this prestigious award since LeBron. Since then, the Dallas Mavericks star has established himself as one of the most promising players in the league.
His swift progress was undeniable, and many have rooted for him to win the MVP this past season (2023-24) after registering a staggering tally of 34 points, 9.8 assists, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game. However, those remarkable numbers weren't enough for the 24-year-old to be crowned as the season's best player. Instead, the award was given to Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic.
In the NBA, the above players prove that there are instances where certain stars, who undoubtedly deserve to win the MVP, are overlooked for various reasons. Though they never got to be hailed as the best of the best, their performances and accomplishments have certainly guaranteed them a spot in the pantheon of all-time greats.
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