Which players have received votes for individual NBA awards the most times?

Unsurprisingly, the players considered the best to ever grace an NBA court have accumulated the most votes for individual awards given by the league in history.

At No. 1, you have the inevitable LeBron James with 36 times receiving votes. However, there are some important caveats. First, modern-day players have a big advantage since the number of individual awards has increased over time. Defensive Player of the Year (for which LeBron received votes nine times) was only introduced in 1983, for example; one can imagine how many votes Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain would have had if it had existed during their careers.

Secondly, Tim Duncan might have topped this ranking if he hadn’t been so great from the get-go. What puts LeBron over the top here is his four years with Most Improved Player votes compared to Duncan’s zero, which is the price you pay when you’re an MVP candidate already in your rookie season.

As always, you can check the full ranking below.

1. LeBron James: 36

MVP: 20 (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025)

DPOY: 9 (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)

Rookie: 1 (2004)

MIP: 4 (2005, 2006, 2008, 2014)

Clutch: 2 (2024, 2025)

2. Tim Duncan: 32

MVP: 16 (2000, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)

DPOY: 15 (1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015)

Rookie: 1 (1998)

3. Kobe Bryant: 27

MVP: 13 (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)

DPOY: 10 (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)

Sixth: 1 (1998)

MIP: 3 (2000, 1998, 2006)

3. Kevin Garnett: 27

MVP: 10 (2000, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2013)

DPOY: 14 (2000, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012)

Rookie: 1 (1996)

MIP: 2 (1997, 2003)

5. Michael Jordan: 24

MVP: 13 (1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002)

DPOY: 10 (1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)

Rookie: 1 (1985)

5. Hakeem Olajuwon: 24

MVP: 13 (1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999)

DPOY: 10 (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999)

Rookie: 1 (1985)

7. Shaquille O'Neal: 23

MVP: 14 (2000, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007)

DPOY: 5 (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005)

Rookie: 1 (1993)

MIP: 3 (2000, 2005, 2008)

7. Giannis Antetokounmpo: 23

MVP: 9 (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)

DPOY: 7 (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)

Rookie: 1 (2014)

MIP: 5 (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)

Clutch: 1 (2024)

9. Chris Paul: 21

MVP: 11 (2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2022)

DPOY: 8 (2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)

Rookie: 1 (2006)

MIP: 1 (2008)

10. David Robinson: 20

MVP: 10 (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001)

DPOY: 9 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001)

Rookie: 1 (1990)

10. Dwight Howard: 20

MVP: 5 (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)

DPOY: 9 (2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)

Rookie: 1 (2005)

Sixth: 1 (2020)

MIP: 4 (2006, 2007, 2008, 2010)

12. Karl Malone: 19

MVP: 15 (2000, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001)

DPOY: 1 (1992)

Rookie: 1 (1986)

MIP: 2 (1987, 1998)

12. Dwyane Wade: 19

MVP: 8 (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)

DPOY: 6 (2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)

Rookie: 1 (2004)

Sixth: 2 (2018, 2019)

MIP: 2 (2005, 2009)

12. Gary Payton: 19

MVP: 8 (2000, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002)

DPOY: 8 (2000, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003)

MIP: 3 (1993, 1994, 2002)

15. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 18

MVP: 17 (1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986)

Rookie: 1 (1970)

15. Scottie Pippen: 18

MVP: 6 (1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998)

DPOY: 9 (2000, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999)

MIP: 3 (1989, 1990, 1991)

17. Kevin Durant: 17

MVP: 11 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2024)

DPOY: 1 (2018)

Rookie: 1 (2008)

MIP: 4 (2009, 2010, 2013, 2014)

22. Stephen Curry: 17

MVP: 11 (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025)

Rookie: 1 (2010)

MIP: 2 (2013, 2016)

Clutch: 3 (2023, 2024, 2025)

17. Russell Westbrook: 17

MVP: 8 (2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021)

DPOY: 2 (2012, 2013)

Rookie: 1 (2009)

Sixth: 3 (2023, 2024, 2025)

MIP: 3 (2010, 2011, 2016)

17. Dennis Rodman: 17

MVP: 4 (1992, 1994, 1995, 1996)

DPOY: 10 (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998)

Sixth: 2 (1989, 1994)

MIP: 1 (1989)

21. Dirk Nowitzki: 16

MVP: 12 (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014)

MIP: 4 (2000, 2001, 2003, 2005)

21. Kawhi Leonard: 16

MVP: 6 (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021)

DPOY: 6 (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020)

Rookie: 1 (2012)

MIP: 3 (2013, 2015, 2016)

23. Larry Bird: 15

MVP: 12 (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992)

DPOY: 2 (1983, 1984)

Rookie: 1 (1980)

23. Magic Johnson: 15

MVP: 12 (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1996)

DPOY: 1 (1984)

Rookie: 1 (1980)

Sixth: 1 (1996)

23. John Stockton: 15

MVP: 12 (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001)

DPOY: 2 (1988, 1991)

MIP: 1 (1988)

23. James Harden: 15

MVP: 10 (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2025)

Sixth: 2 (2011, 2012)

MIP: 3 (2011, 2012, 2013)

23. Patrick Ewing: 15

MVP: 8 (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997)

DPOY: 5 (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993)

Rookie: 1 (1986)

MIP: 1 (1989)

23. Manu Ginobili: 15

MVP: 3 (2008, 2010, 2011)

DPOY: 1 (2005)

Rookie: 1 (2003)

Sixth: 9 (2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)

MIP: 1 (2004)

23. Andre Iguodala: 15

DPOY: 8 (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)

Rookie: 1 (2005)

Sixth: 4 (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019)

MIP: 2 (2007, 2008)

30. Charles Barkley: 14

MVP: 12 (1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997)

MIP: 2 (1986, 1987)

30. Ben Wallace: 14

MVP: 3 (2002, 2003, 2004)

DPOY: 8 (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010)

MIP: 3 (2001, 2002, 2010)

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Which players have received votes for individual NBA awards the most times?