Top 5 Players With Most NBA All-Star Game MVP Honors

Every year, after the NBA All-Star Game, a panel of media members votes for the “Most Valuable Player” of the game. While the All-Star MVP award is little more than official bragging rights, the feeling of being the hottest scorer under the brightest lights does come with a real sense of pride.

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While Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has played in 18 All-Star games in his career, he has yet to win the MVP once, while Adrian Smith won the hardware in his only All-Star game. The coveted game of the season is scheduled for Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. ET at the United Center in Chicago.

Before Saturday night’s festivities, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced that the league had renamed the All-Star Game MVP award in honor of the late Kobe Bryant. This article will examine the five NBA superstars with the most All-Star MVP honors.

 

 

#5 LeBron James – 3

The 2020 All-Star Weekend will see LeBron James make a record 16 consecutive appearances, and, as a result, he also leads the league in scoring during the All-Star Game. James was named conference captain since the format change, and his team has tasted victory both times.

LeBron has managed to bag three All-Star Game MVPs so far (2006, 2008, 2018), most recently with a mesmerizing performance of 29 points, ten rebounds, and eight assists in a 148- 145 to beat Team Stephen Curry. In all MVP-winning games, the Kings never scored less than 27 points. As an exciting trivia recap, Cleveland’s James started in 2008 with Miami’s Dwyane Wade and Toronto’s Chris Bosh.

In his 17th NBA regular season, LeBron James has 12 triple-doubles so far. He’s averaging 25 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 10.8 assists (a league-leading) this year while shooting 49 percent from the field.

 

 

#4 Michael Jordan – 3

Michael Jordan was a 14-time All-Star when he retired. During the 1988 All-Star break, he dropped 40 points to announce his arrival on the world basketball stage and earn MVP honors, the first of his career.

In 1996, he was outplayed by Shaquille O’Neal in the All-Star Game but still won the MVP award. It was his return to the All-Star game after missing a season with minor league baseball. He last won the All-Star MVP award in 1998, the season before he retired, not returning until 2001 with the Washington Wizards.

Overall, his presence is enough to raise the bar for this game.

 

 

#3 Shaquille O’Neal – 3

Shaquille O’Neal made 15 All-Star appearances (seven with the Lakers). He won three All-Star Game MVP honors in 2000 (shared with Tim Duncan), 2004, and 2009 (shared with Kobe Bryant).

The only time he didn’t share his MVP trophy was in 2004 when Big Diesel dropped 24 points & grabbed 11 rebounds in a 136-132 West win.

O’Neal retired as a four-time champion and three-time Finals MVP, but his breezy performance during the All-Star break put a smile on anyone’s face.

 

#2 Bob Pettit – 4

Bob Pettit won the Hardware All-Star Game MVP in 1956, 1958, 1959 (shared with Elgin Baylor), and 1962.

In 1956, he dropped 20 points and grabbed 26 rebounds for the St. Louis Hawks. Although his team lost in 1958, Pettit’s impressive numbers (28 points and 26 rebounds) were enough to earn him a second All-Star Game MVP trophy.

In the 1962 All-Star Game, Wilt Chamberlain recorded 42 points and 24 rebounds for a losing lineup, but Pettit was still voted MVP with 25 points and 27 rebounds.

 

 

#1 Kobe Bryant – 4

Kobe Bryant was an 18-time All-Star when he decided to leave the basketball game.

Bryant won his first All-Star MVP trophy in 2002 when he scored 31 points and wrote the Mamba Mentality in an exhibition game. His next goal came in 2007 when he completed six passes (along with 31 points and six steals). That year, Bryant led the Western Conference to victory and beat Amar Stoudemire (29 points) for the trophy.

After sharing his third MVP award with O’Neal in 2009, Bryant won it back for himself for the last time in 2011. He had 37 points and 14 rebounds and joined Bob Pettit for the most All-Star Game MVPs of the four.