The Closest (and most controversial) MVP Race In NBA History 

Jordan wasn't even unanimous in 96 with a 72 win team. Shows immense bias that even after he was a champ, some voters just refused to vote for him. The very next season, he comes back and leads his team to 69 wins and that's enough of an excuse to not vote him MVP. Unbelievable.

Barkley got screwed. How could some voters not even put him on their ballot? What a joke.

Man if this happened today it would literally be called the asterisk mvp by so many fans😭

So Magic Johnson was the 1990 MVP and the 1991 MVP runner-up but apparently was "old" and on his "last leg" at 31 years old. If you ask Lebron fans and critics of Jordan.

2016 MVP race got to be the closest race ever in NBA history

Barkley's my favorite player, and I'm not really a fan of Jordan, but I've never quite understood the "Jordan's selfish" position. Yes, the guy is probably the most competitive human being to ever live, and his main goal in life seems to have been to convince the entire world that he was the best basketball player ever. But he averaged five or six assists a game during most of his prime years. One year he got eight assists per game. He was clearly passing the ball, and not just trying to hog all the glory for himself.

I still dont get it how you lose MVP if u have the most 1st place votes

This race was very close. Both Barkley and MJ both had good cases for winning the award putting up great individual numbers. 25 PPG and 11 RPG for Charles along with MJ putting up 33 PPG and 7 APG. From the eye test it looked like Barkley should’ve won the award based on individual numbers. However Magic led the lakers to more wins.

The MVP race is all about marketing. As Andy noted, the criteria for MVP are specifically kept vague so that it can be used as a topic to create content. Considering the fact that "the media" is merely just a group of people with microphones, everyone in media has their own view as to what constitutes an MVP. Their views can shift based on the person who they favor, which is why the narratives change from year to year. As an example, Russell Westbrook won an MVP because of amazing statistics despite OKC's less-than-stellar record as a 5th seed in the west. However, the context of HOW and WHY he won it is on some storybook shit. Obviously, you had the story about KD not only just leaving, but also joining Golden State who had just put them out after choking the 3-1 lead. Then, you had *that* specific game against Denver late in the season, where Westbrook accomplished 3 major feats. First, Westbrook secured the triple double record to supplant the Big O with a 50 point triple double (which he *could* have secured in the *previous* game against the Suns, but the Suns weren't havin' it). Second, he hit a CRAZY game winner *while* securing the record. Third, *that* win for OKC knocked the Nuggets out of playoff contention. So even though the Thunder weren't a GREAT team with a top record, the story being the story is what swung the MVP in Westbrook's favor, as well as his stunning, historic stats and amazing, intriguing playstyle. All those things combined to earn Westbrook an MVP. Now, get this, James Harden was in the running for MVP and was neck-and-neck with Westbrook, but the Westbrook story was just too good. Subsequently, perhaps even ironically, Harden's Rockets ended up putting out the MVP in the first round of the playoffs in 5 games, reached the WCF and went 7 games with arguably the most talented team ever assembled (the Warriors with KD).

Should’ve been Jordan. Wouldn’t have been upset if Barkley won it, but that mvp race gave us one of the best quotes. When magic won it, Barkley complained “Magic won because he makes James Worthy look good. I gotta make Shelton Jones look good!” 😂

congrats on 500k !! always been one of the best basketball channels

Congratulations on reaching half a million subscribers Andy! Well deserved! :)

Almost nobody is old enough to remember but in 61-62 Wilt didn't win MVP after averaging 50 and 25 no matter how much you value team sucess it's hard to deny that this was the biggest robbery in NBA awards history.

7 players in that 1990 race competing for MVP including Jordan. But apparently there was no talent in 1990 if you ask today's fans.

Yo andy, your channel is fire!! all of the lil details are pointed!! and in this season i think that the stats of david robinson is insane, from a lakers fan!! in that time the nba was loaded

Dope vid as always Andy 💯

Great content Andy

Oh yeah great video Andy!! Thanks!!

Listen guys, if you have the most 1st place votes, then you should win!! No doubt about it!!!

Love your vids Andy! here is an intresting idea for your next video: Why the Cavs fire David Blatt (led them to the finals the year prior and had the best recored in the east yet still got fired)

LAKERS won 63 games and MAGIC was playing without KAREEM for the 1st time..people were saying that LAKERS would start losing.

Amazing video!!! 💯%🔥

dammn got caught up watching the Jordan highlights I missed some of the narration in the video.🤣🤣 MJ game is so aesthetically pleasing.

MJ was phenomenal but people that weren’t around don’t understand how much Magic was loved by the fans. He and Bird did so much for the NBA at a time when the league was struggling. The Lakers basically became his team when he arrived as a rookie. To me, he is the second greatest player ever.

GREAT VIDEO showing some knowledge...you got a new subscriber here.

The 2001 league MVP also makes a great case as well. Shaq, Allen Iverson, and Tim Duncan finished in the top 3 in MVP voting. Shaq only finished 3rd after having virtually the same dominant season as from 2000. Not to mention, the 76ers and Spurs only finished with 2 more regular season wins over the Lakers during that season.

Great video, some editing feedback, it would have been helpful if you explained how the voting works. I actually had no idea how it did, was able to put it together.

No problem with Magic winning it. Look how many ppg he was responsible for with points & assists. And then to go 63-19 after losing Kareem? He earned it. Maybe instead of crying about it, Chuck should've unleashed his wrath on the league like MJ did to Karl Malone in 97 or Chuck in 93 or even vs Drexler in 92 when guys thought he should've won instead.

How in the world could some media say that Jordan was a selfish player when he averaged over 6 assists per game, he basically had the best all-around stats over Magic and Chuck ...

what a great video.

6:17 lol when you hear the words "late season surge" in todays nba, it implies some late season surgery that one of the top nba players has for some injury

2:52 “the 1999 MVP” 😂

Man Andy gets a lot of great old footage

Man Charles was all by his damn self on that squad....I get why they gave it to Magic tho - for marketing purposes 🙄 but Charles was robbed

What happens to push the NBA in a winning and profitable direction is usually the right fit, same with awards such as the Oscars and countless others. And sometimes players are simply due their win based on consistency over a number of years then tenure plays its roll.

In 1990 Jordan led the league in Win Shares, Win shares per 48, VORP, BPM, PER, and points.

for sure aside from the 1989-90 MVP race and for sure the controversial 1992-93 MVP voting I still dont get it how you lose MVP if u have the most 1st place votes

Magic Johnson won the 1989-90 NBA regular season MVP because he has the best smile. In fact, he has the best smile in the entire NBA history.

How Good was TOM CHAMBERS -Dale Ellis -Terry Cummings -Xavier Macdaniel

The Sports Illustrated "Role Model" title with the picture of Malone. XD

This seems like an interesting topic. I think it could'vw done either way consider the fact that Magic's Lakers got ousted early in the second round.

6:44 that’s when Michael Jordan started taking everything personally

point guards are given a lot of credit. They always have the ball and have the option for an assist or a score. If Barkley played point, both points and assists would go up (in theory - yes I know he's not a point guard). To leave Barkley off the top 3 was silly. If he's not 1st, he's 2nd and so on. They need to interview the people that left him off. Barkley shouldn't be penalized for not having teammates and a crap record. He never played with an all star until Phoenix with Dan Marjerle.

MISTAKE AT 2:53.... You said the "1999 MVP" 😂😂😂... GOTCHA

What?! Lol You hear that Rich Paul and Bronsexuals? The media said “Jordan would never Magic or Bird”. They said “His style of play would never win a championship”. “He’s a selfish player!”. “He’ll never get past the Pistons.” So much for Jordan never getting criticism. 😂😂😂😂

andy can you also rank the year by year best all first team. thank you hope u notice.

Jordan himself admitted his selfishness while it took Jackson to convince him to change so people criticizing Jordan could not win playing like that. Truth

This is why voting should be done by the players and voting for a teammate should be banned.

They often give it to the most important player on the best winning team aka Lakers and Magic

you should do the case in 1976 season mvp race

I'm of the opinion the MVP should be the best player on the best team in the league. That said, with all the talk about which of these three players should have been MVP, the best player on the best team was Isiah Thomas of the Pistons. SO where is he in this discussion?

Imagine this happening today with Twitter and you tube

It still blows my mind that people gave westbrick an mvp trophy for averaging a triple double in the entire season when his team literally lost games because of his selfishness trying to get stats. How was he the most valuable player when he was litteraly devaluing the team he was in

What if Magic made his announcement that changed his NBA career forever 2 years earlier (but instead of retiring immediately, he decides to continue playing at least for that 1989-90 season), would that affect his run for MVP in terms of his image?

Ahhhh. What an era.

This was the closest mvp race. If the knicks had a better record Ewing would of win it. Again nba team record is a determining factor!

Ewing should have won it. He has the best numbers all round including the best defense out of all of them!

Jordan still should’ve won it

2:50 1990*

Karl Malone had a better case than Chuck. 31 & 11 > 25 & 11 and Malone won 2 more games

Chuck ain't got no right to be upset, if anyone should have gotten it was MJ. 34/7/6 is an ungodly statline and miles ahead in terms of impact compared to the rest of the front runners.

This is why All-Nba trumps all-star and All-Pro trumps pro bowl appearances.

I’m so confused, I didn’t realize Jordan played before 1991

Now see this is 100% a good video…!!! BUT it was 1990 not 99’…

In my idea, three two main stats to use to judge who is the best player of a season are the Box Plus/Minus the Win Share and the Number of victory of your team Win share and Box PM because these stats were created for that, to tell how a player contributed to a victory (which is I think the true definition of a Valuable Player) But I think that have a Win Share of 16 in a very good team could be more impressive that have a WS of 20 in a very bad. Because in a very good team, that's less easy to be remarkable. If the team is bad around you, you will be more remarkable. And based on that, I think the MVP should be Magic or MJ, based on what do you think was more valuable, and Barcklay a solid third.

This is highway robbery from jordan. Just looking at the numbers you see that. Not to factor in that he was first team all defense while magic and Barkley were cones on defense

2016 was close too 😂😂

Drugz Barkley high on mvp. Now we know why he ended up as a ringless wonder 😂

I mean, seen the statistical table you show in the video chick has the "worst" statistics. Even Ewing and Robinson, even if they scoe less, come on 4 bpg and more than 1.5 steals... and of course the other 3 are fantastic. It is true that advance statistics are not shown there...

Who are this year biggest mvp favorites ?i have Dončić,Tatum and Booker its gonna be a first time winner in my opinion

4:20 revisionist history. That's simply not true. By 1989, Michael Jordan was more recognizable and more celebrated by fans worldwide than Magic Johnson. Those of us who lived during this time, know that what you said at 4:20 is untrue.

When you look at Barkley stats they were insane. He had highest FG% in the NBA (while not having another star on the team, constantly getting double teamed), a top 5 scorer, a top 5 rebounder and could distribute the ball. He got robbed that year because his team was not as good as the lakers.

What makes votes first,second, and third place votes? What is it?

I think Kevin McHale should have been promoted with some Mvp points too

0:33-0:36...Adam Silvers lol

I love Sir Charles. It's still Jordan Magic(a close second) Barkley Malone Ewing. Get David outta here 😂

2:51 sounds like 1999 MVP

33.6 ppg in 1990, damn

As a Lakers fan...Barkley should have won

The closest was in 1987 when magic just barely squeezed by Bird for mvp

That was close but it was deserved like every mvp

10:35 **cough**Kendrick Perkins

after '86 MJ should have been the MVP every year with Magic & Bird playing with All-Star teammates and both being average at best man-to-man defenders (no zone defense allowed)... from '87 to '93 and '96 to '98 for 10 MVPs total should have all gone to MJ... fax!!!

The context to the narrative around pre-championship MJ makes me not put as much pressure on players today because if the media hated on MJ they’ll hate on anyone.

Can we also acknowledge Charles was individually greater than Malone and it's not close in talent.

7:20 Hilarious how a voter more than 30 years ago knew exactly what the league was doing. Yet every year you see bums on twitter complaining about it lol

Wasn’t a young Larry Bird also a polarizing figure yet won 3 straight mvps? Maybe he was just that good and the media had no choice but to vote for him lol

Jordan or Malone could've won mvp that year too.

2:51 - wait,1999? I though it was 1989...

500k gang

Lots of fans love to throw around the word robbed as hyperbole. This one is the only one in the modern NBA that word isn't hyperbole. Barkley had the most 1st place votes and should've won period.

How many MVPs should LBJ have if it were simply a vote for the Best or Most Valuable that season? MVP is completely narrative driven.

Who's the award named after now? Nuff said

Karl Malone could have easily won this award 31 and 11 geeeez

The closest MVP race was in 2005 Shaq vs Nash

Ngl these awards have lost its value in recent years because of the media.

Next topic the only unanimous mvp voting in 2016

subjective award, means nothing!

Look at Jordan's numbers & his defense, it's a crime that he did not win.

Magic had a better team than Barkley. It's most valuable player, not most valuable team.