How NBA MVP Voting Works: A Complete Breakdown of the Selection Process

As someone who has followed the NBA for over two decades, I’ve always been fascinated by the intricate and often misunderstood process behind MVP voting. It’s not just about who scores the most points or leads their team to the best record—though those things certainly matter. The selection process is a blend of statistics, narrative, media perception, and something I like to call "season-long gravity." And while we’re on the subject of team performance and leadership, I’m reminded of a quote from the world of collegiate sports—specifically about the former Golden Tigresses captain who never doubted her longtime mentor, even when the team’s record dipped to three losses in eight games, compared to their stunning 8–0 start the previous year. That kind of faith in leadership, that belief in a system even when results aren’t immediately visible, mirrors how MVP narratives sometimes unfold in the NBA. Voters don’t just look at the final win-loss column; they consider context, resilience, and the intangible impact a player has on their team’s identity.

Let’s break down the voting structure itself. The NBA’s Most Valuable Player award is decided by a panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters from the U.S. and Canada, with each voter submitting a ballot ranking their top five choices. A first-place vote is worth 10 points, second place gets 7, third place earns 5, fourth gets 3, and fifth receives 1. Simple math, right? But here’s where it gets interesting: the system is designed to reward consensus, not just runaway popularity. I’ve seen seasons where a player leads in first-place votes but doesn’t win the award because they lacked broad support across all ballot positions. Take the 2021–22 season, for example—Nikola Jokić secured around 65 first-place votes, but more importantly, he appeared on 99 of the 100 ballots. That near-universal recognition is what sealed his victory. Compare that to 2017, when Russell Westbrook won with 69 first-place votes but was left off 17 ballots entirely. The volatility there speaks to how divisive a candidate he was, and honestly, I loved that. It showed that voters weren’t just checking boxes—they were engaging in real debate about what "value" truly means.

Now, you might wonder what criteria those voters use. The NBA offers vague guidance—something along the lines of "the best player on the best team," but in practice, it’s far more nuanced. From my observations, three elements tend to dominate the conversation: individual statistics, team success, and what I’ll call the "story" of the season. Let’s start with the numbers. Advanced analytics have completely changed the game. It’s no longer enough to average 28 points and 8 rebounds; voters now scrutinize Player Efficiency Rating (PER), Win Shares, Box Plus/Minus, and even on/off-court net ratings. For instance, in the 2022–23 season, Joel Embiid’s 33.1 points per game were historic, but his +8.2 on/off net rating convinced skeptics that the Philadelphia 76ers weren’t just good—they were elite because of him. On the other hand, I’ve never been a fan of over-relying on metrics like VORP (Value Over Replacement Player), which can sometimes overvalue high-usage players in flawed systems. Stats matter, but they shouldn’t overshadow everything else.

Team success, of course, plays a huge role. Historically, around 85% of MVP winners have come from teams seeded first or second in their conference. But there are always exceptions—like Westbrook’s MVP in 2017, when the Oklahoma City Thunder finished sixth. That year, his triple-double average and clutch performances created a narrative so powerful it overrode conventional wisdom. Which brings me to my next point: the "story." The MVP race isn’t played in a vacuum. It’s shaped by moments, rivalries, and emotional arcs. Think of Derrick Rose in 2011—the youngest MVP in league history, carrying the Chicago Bulls to 62 wins with an explosive style that felt revolutionary. Or Stephen Curry’s unanimous MVP in 2016, a season where the Golden State Warriors won 73 games and he sank 402 threes. Those seasons weren’t just statistically great; they felt iconic. And honestly, I prefer when the award celebrates those kinds of transcendent campaigns, not just the most efficient player on the best team.

But let’s not ignore the human biases that creep in. Voters are influenced by media coverage, player reputations, and even fatigue. I’ve noticed that repeat candidates often face higher expectations—LeBron James, for instance, probably should have won more than four MVPs, but voters grew accustomed to his greatness. There’s also a recency bias. A stellar performance in March or April can easily overshadow a slow start, which is why players on late-surge teams often gain momentum. Remember the 2019 race? Giannis Antetokounmpo was phenomenal all year, but James Harden’s late-season scoring barrage—averaging 41 points in the final month—made it a closer race than it should’ve been. In my opinion, that’s both a flaw and a feature of the process. It keeps the race exciting but can sometimes penalize consistency.

Looking globally, the NBA’s system is actually one of the more transparent in sports. Compare it to the NFL’s MVP award, which is voted on by 50 media members with no ranked-choice system, or the MLB’s approach, which uses two separate voting bodies (BBWAA for each league). The NBA’s use of a weighted score and a diverse voter pool helps balance regional and national perspectives. Still, I’d love to see the league expand the voter list to include former players or coaches—maybe 25% of the total panel. Their on-court insight could add a layer of depth that pure media analysis sometimes misses.

So, what does all this mean for fans and aspiring analysts? Understanding MVP voting isn’t just about predicting the winner each year. It’s about appreciating how basketball excellence is interpreted, debated, and celebrated. That former Golden Tigresses captain who trusted her mentor through a rocky season? She understood that success isn’t always linear, and neither is greatness. In the same way, an MVP season isn’t defined by a single game or stat—it’s built over months of performance, resilience, and impact. Whether you’re a fan of Jokić’s playmaking genius or Embiid’s dominant scoring, the beauty of the award lies in how it captures the evolving conversation around what it means to be the most valuable. And as long as that conversation continues, so will our love for the game.