Top 5 Oldest NBA MVPs of All Time

It’s already impressive enough to see how long professional athletes can withstand the wear and tear of their sports and the strain it has on their bodies. What makes it even more impressive in the NBA is when the older athletes outshine the younger ones, usually by skill over athleticism.

Some of the oldest players in basketball were not only the best on their team, but they were some of the best players in the entire NBA season. So, in this article, we’ll highlight the top five oldest NBA MVPs of all time. For consistency, we’ll outline the oldest ages of each player with an NBA regular season MVP trophy, the team they played for and the season they won MVP.

Top 5 oldest MVPs in NBA history

5. Hakeem Olajuwon – MVP at 31 years old

Starting our list of oldest NBA MVPs of all time and tied for 5th oldest MVP along with Wilt Chamberlain (honorable mention) and Steve Nash, Olajuwon was a force to be reckoned with during the 1993-1994 season with the Houston Rockets. 

Out of his 80 games played, he managed to craft 27.3 points per game, 3.7 blocks per game and 11.9 rebounds per game, which is more blocks and rebounds than any other MVP on this list. Interestingly enough, Hakeem Olajuwon also tops this list for having his season with the highest average FGM at 11.2, so there’s no doubt he deserves a spot on this list.

4. Steve Nash – MVP at 31 years old

Next up, also a 31-year-old MVP, is Steve Nash, a renowned basketball MVP of the mid-2000s. With 79 appearances on the court for the Phoenix Suns during the 2005-2006, Nash earned his second NBA MVP trophy at age 31 in his 2nd consecutive season.

With the lowest number of minutes-per-game out of the top five oldest NBA MVPs of all time, Nash still managed to net 18.8 points per game on average during his 2205-2006 season. Out of the other oldest NBA MVPs, Nash destroys them when comparing his APG, earning a whopping 10.5 assists per game on average.

3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – MVP at 32 years old

Another well-deserved MVP veteran of basketball is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a long-time Lakers player who had to wait three years before winning his second MVP trophy at 32 years old in 1980, making him the third oldest NBA MVP of all time. 

Coming close to Olajuwon with 82 games played, Abdul-Jabber was also a ferocious blocker, averaging 3.4 blocks and claiming around 10.8 rebounds per game on average. Kareem also finished his 1980 MVP Lakers season with an FGM stat of 10.2 and 24.8 points per game, so he certainly deserves to be mentioned on the list of oldest NBA MVPs ever.

2. Michael Jordan – MVP at 32 & 34 years old

This maestro of the game needs no introduction, but for those who might not know, Michael Jordan was a two-time MVP for the Chicago Bulls during his 1995-1996 and 1997-1998 seasons, winning both at age 32 and 34.

For his legendary career at the Bulls, specifically his 1998 MVP season, Jordan not only netted 28.7 points per game out of 82 games but averaged 1.7 steals. While not much of a blocker or rebounder, Jordan kept his stats relatively consistent from his 1996 season and finished with an FGM stat of 10.7.

It’s no surprise Jordan’s one of the top players on this list, and the solidified Hall-of-Famer certainly earns his keep as one of the oldest NBA MVPs in history.

1. Karl Malone – MVP at 33 & 35 years old

The one and only Karl Malone tops Michael Jordan in claiming the oldest NBA MVP trophies at age 33 and 35. The Utah Jazz legend would claim his seasonal crown during the 1995-1996 and 1998-199 regular NBA seasons.

During his most recent 1999 MVP-winning season, Malone only had 49 games played! He averaged 23.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, but it’s interesting to think about how high those numbers could’ve been if it weren’t for Malone’s stretch of injury. Winning the regular season MVP at 35 is something to be extremely proud of and Malone currently holds the record for the oldest NBA MVP of all time.