Over the past decades, the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award has been a trend, with a streak of nine consecutive winners without any ink on their bodies. This pattern started in 2017 with Russell Westbrook and continued through to the present day with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 2025 victory. It highlights an interesting cultural shift in the league.
The 9 MVP winners since 2017, respectively, include Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. None of these players has visible tattoos. Yes! You read the right! The only common thing between all the past MVPS in the last nine seasons is that they have not inked themselves!
While this trend doesn’t link to on-court performance, it reflects unique personal choices among top players. As the NBA continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see if the trend continues or breaks, but it remains a unique detail in MVP history.
Five MVP Winners And Their Performances
5. Joel Embiid
Embiid took the MVP award in 2022-23. He led the team with 33.1 points per game alongside 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists. He anchored the Philadelphia 76ers on both ends of the floor.
Embiid posted three 50-point games, including a 52-point outing against the Boston Celtics late in the season. His leadership helped his team secure a top seed despite an injured lineup. Embiid’s consistency and dominance earned him 73 first-place MVP votes.
4. James Harden
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Harden won the MVP award in the 2017-18 season while averaging 30.4 points per game. He also contributed 5.4 rebounds, 8.8 assists, and 1.8 steals per contest. Harden led the league with his offensive power and helped the Houston Rockets secure a 65-win season. His all-around dominance defined one of the most efficient seasons of his career.
3. Russell Westbrook
In his 2016-17 MVP Season, Russell Westbrook made history by averaging a triple-double, including 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists per game. He became the first player since Oscar Robertson to accomplish the milestone. Westbrook’s rentless energy and leadership carried the Thunder to 47 wins after Kevin Durant’s departure. His clutch performances and record-breaking 42 triple-doubles defined a historic series.
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Antetokounmpo dominated the NBA in his back-to-back MVP seasons, including 2018-19a nd 2019-20 with unmatched athleticism and versatility. In both years, he averaged 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. His leadership elevated the Milwaukee Bucks to top regular-season finishes, making them a consistent threat in the East. His controlled games with rim protection, scoring, and playmaking solidified his place among the elite in Milwaukee’s championship history.
1. Nikola Jokic
The three-time MVP winner, including 21, 22, and 24, Nikola Jokic, had a historic season, leading the Nuggets to 57 wins and a top-two seed in the West. He became the only player in NBA history to rank at the top in total points, rebounds, assists, and steals in a single season. Jokic averaged at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists, which only five other players have ever matched. With 25 triple-doubles and record-setting efficiency, he made one of the strongest MVP cases in recent memory.
