One of the most prestigious individual prizes in American sports is the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award.
It is awarded at the end of each NBA season to the player who put together the most impressive regular season campaign, and only 35 people have ever lifted this trophy.
It’s difficult enough to win the NBA’s MVP award at all, but what about as a rookie? Here comes a look at the history NBA MVP award and the two times rookies won this prize.
Has a rookie ever won the NBA MVP Award?
Yes, a rookie has won the NBA MVP Award. In fact, this has happened on two occasions.
Wilt Chamberlain won the prize in the 1959/60 season, which was his rookie year, as he went on to put together an outstanding career in which he was named MVP four times.
The only other rookie to have won the NBA MVP Award is Wes Unseld, who achieved this in the 1968/69 season. That was his only time being named NBA MVP.
Who is the youngest ever NBA MVP winner?
When Wilt Chamberlain won his first NBA MVP, he was just 23 years old. But, Wes Unseld was even younger, at 22 years of age.
The only other player to receive the NBA MVP Award as young as 22 is Derrick Rose, for his performances with the Chicago Bulls in the 2010/11 season, his third in the league.
Who is the oldest ever NBA MVP winner?
As for the oldest NBA MVP winner, that is Karl Malone, who was 35 years of age when he claimed the individual prize for his efforts with the Utah Jazz in 1998/99.
Michael Jordan also won an NBA MVP at an old age, doing so aged 34 with the Chicago Bulls in the 1997/98 season.