As the 2025 NBA playoffs captivate fans, anticipation builds for the announcement of the 2024–25 MVP award. The competition is close, with predictions pointing towards a neck-and-neck finish between the top contenders from the previous season.
Last year, Denver Nuggets’ center Nikola Jokic secured his third MVP title, garnering 79 first-place votes and surpassing competitors like Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, a previous MVP holder.
Jokic is again a prime candidate this year, competing alongside Gilgeous-Alexander and Antetokounmpo. Having turned 30 in February, Jokic could become the first player of his age or older to clinch the MVP since Steve Nash in 2006. Gilgeous-Alexander, at 26, is a strong contender and aligns with the typical age of previous MVP winners.
The age difference between the youngest and oldest MVPs spans 13 years, with those milestones occurring 12 years apart. As the league prepares to name its 70th MVP soon, it’s interesting to observe the age trends among the winners.
Oldest NBA MVP: Karl Malone at Age 35 (1998–99 Season)
Two years after his contentious first MVP victory over Michael Jordan in 1996–97, Malone claimed his second MVP title, edging out other top contenders like Alonzo Mourning and the much younger Tim Duncan.
During the lockout-shortened 1998–99 season, Malone averaged 23.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game, leading the Utah Jazz to tie with the San Antonio Spurs for the league’s best record at 37–13. He topped the league in win shares, with 9.6, and ranked second in Player Efficiency Rating (PER) right behind Los Angeles Lakers’ center Shaquille O’Neal.
Despite reaching the NBA Finals twice consecutively, Malone and teammate John Stockton were unable to secure a championship, especially with Jordan now absent from the Eastern Conference. As the third seed in the West, behind the Spurs and the Pacific Division-leading Portland Trail Blazers, Utah advanced past the Sacramento Kings in the first round but was ultimately defeated by the well-rounded Blazers in six games.
Malone remains the oldest player to win an MVP at age 35, setting a new record previously held by Michael Jordan who won his last MVP at 34. This marked a period where the MVP title alternated between Jordan and Malone for four years, each setting new records for the oldest MVP.
Top Five Oldest MVPs in NBA History:
|
MVP |
Year |
Team |
Age |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Karl Malone |
1998–99 |
Utah Jazz |
35 |
|
Michael Jordan |
1997–98 |
Chicago Bulls |
34 |
|
Karl Malone |
1996–97 |
Utah Jazz |
33 |
|
Michael Jordan |
1995–96 |
Chicago Bulls |
32 |
|
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
1979–80 |
Los Angeles Lakers |
32 |
Youngest NBA MVP: Derrick Rose at Age 22 (2010–11 Season)
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