'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABfAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABgcQAAICAgIDAQAAAAAAAAAAAAIDAREABQQHBiIjMQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgQRAAICAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAxEAEkJR/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwDMOJpdrpdrwn8TatF0P4prI/oQreuXmEFNVSy9aiPfKFnZ/fimGsPK0SIFIja13Ufl/HGMsdUMcZ1WzdmsQkkM8w3agx6Puf/Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The ESPY Awards have been, arguably, the biggest awards ceremony in the sports world since debuting in 1993. Each year, the 'Best NBA Player' award is given to the player who is deemed the best player of the year.
LA Lakers star LeBron James has won the award a record seven times, taking home the honors in 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, and 2018. James is followed on the list by Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan, who won the award four times, including the inaugural year.
Jordan earned the title of 'Best NBA Player' in 1993, 1997, 1998, and 1999. It is likely that the NBA Hall of Famer would have been named 'Best NBA Player' several more times throughout his career if the award was given in the first eight years of his career.
Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry comes next on the list as he has won the award three times, in 2015, 2021, and 2022. LA Lakers legends Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal have both claimed the award twice, as have Houston Rockets legend Hakeem Olajuwon and San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan.
Bryant won the award in 2008 and 2010, while O'Neal won the award in 2001 and 2002. Olajuwon won the award in 1995 and 1996, while Duncan did in 2000 and 2003.
Charles Barkley, Kevin Garnett, Steve Nash, Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant, and Giannis Antetokounmpo have each won the award once, winning in 1994, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2014, and 2019, respectively.
Watch actor Bill Murray accept the 1998 'Best NBA Player' award at the 1998 ESPY Awards on behalf of Michael Jordan below:
Who will take home the 'Best NBA Player' honors at the 2023 ESPY Awards?
The ESPY Awards are held annually in the summer, allowing the entire NBA season to be taken into account. Based on the history of the award, it is impossible to determine who is the favorite before the rest of the season, and particularly the NBA Finals, are completed.
Steph Curry's award-winning 2021 season is the only season in the 29-year history of the ESPY Awards in which a player named 'Best NBA Player' did not win the MVP or reach the NBA Finals. With half of the season and the postseason remaining, it is unlikely that any player will emerge as the favorite to win the award for at least several months.
