No National Team? No NBA MVP!

MIES (Switzerland) — Every player named the NBA's MVP since 1984, when Larry Bird received the first of his three MVP crowns, has also had an important history with his national team.

That’s been the case for 42 years in a row now. What can we draw from this impressive streak?

The best of the best also play for their countries.

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Larry Bird, USA

The "Hick from French Lick", who shot to prominence while playing for Indiana State in their 1979 NCAA Tournament Final showdown against Michigan State and Magic Johnson, went on to capture three NBA titles.

He capped off his playing career in Barcelona 1992 with the USA Dream Team, winning the gold medal after averaging 8.4 points and 3.8 rebounds.

Magic Johnson, USA

The pride of Lansing, Michigan, left for NBA in 1979 after leading Michigan State past Indiana State in the NCAA Tournament Final and like Bird had an amazing career, capturing five NBA titles.

Though forced to retire before the 1991-92 season for health reasons, Johnson was named to the USA Dream Team the following year and helped the Americans capture gold, averaging 8.0 points and 5.5 assists per game.

Michael Jordan, USA

Before being known as the best player in the world, Jordan, who hit the winning shot for North Carolina against Georgetown in the 1982 NCAA Final, led the Americans to gold at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Eight years later, he was the center of attention in USA Dream Team that took Barcelona by storm and reached the top of the Olympic podium. Jordan is in the FIBA Hall of Fame.

Charles Barkley, USA

An NBA title eluded Barkley, aka the "Round Mound of Rebound", during his career with the Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns, but Olympic gold did not!

Barkley averaged 18.0 points and 4.1 rebounds for the gold-medal winning Dream Team in Barcelona in 1992, and scored 12.4 points and corralled 6.6 rebounds per game while reaching the top of the podium at Atlanta 1996.

Hakeem Olajuwon, USA

The Lagos, Nigeria born Olajuwon, a sensation with the Houston Cougars' "Phi Slama Jama" teams that reached the NCAA Tournament Finals in 1983 and 1984, won NBA titles with the Houston Rockets in 1994 and 1995.

He suited up for the USA at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and helped his adopted country capture the gold medal.

David Robinson, USA

The US Naval Academy legend led the USA to FIBA Basketball World Cup glory in 1986, in Spain, and won bronze with the USA Olympic team in 1988.

The Admiral launched his NBA career in the 1989-90 season and later made the USA Dream Team that played in Barcelona. With the USA Dream Team in 1992, he averaged 12.0 points and 5.0 rebounds.

He also averaged 12.0 points and 4.6 rebounds in the 1996 Olympic gold medal winning team. Robinson spearheaded San Antonio's first NBA title run in 1999 and also played in the championship-winning team of 2003. He was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2013.

Karl Malone, USA

The Mailman didn't just deliver for the Utah Jazz, his NBA team from 1985 to 2003 (he also spent a final season with the Lakers). Malone shined for the USA gold medal winning teams at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics.

While he had 19 points in the Dream Team's opening win over Angola in Barcelona, Malone had 18 in a Preliminary Round triumph over Germany and 18 again in the Semi-Final Triumph over Lithuania, "The Other Dream Team".

Shaquille O'Neal, USA

Two of the reasons Shaq is in the FIBA Hall of Fame are obvious. He dominated for the Americans at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 1994 in Toronto, which earned him recognition as the tournament's MVP. He dunked his way to 18.5 points point game and also 8.5 rebounds per contest.

Shaq also played an important role for the USA when they claimed the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He went into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2017.

Allen Iverson, USA

One of the most explosive point guards in NBA history, making 11 All-Star Game appearances and claiming the MVP Award at the end of the 2000-01 season, Allen "The Answer" Iverson suited up for the USA at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and averaged 13.8 points per game.

The Americans lost three times at those Games, including to Argentina in Semi-Finals. Yet they avenged another of the defeats, against Lithuania, by beating the Baltic team in the Bronze Medal Game when Iverson had 15 points.

Tim Duncan, USA

The Big Fundamental followed up a couple of back-to-back MVP seasons (2001-02, 2002-03) by representing the USA at the Athens Olympics in 2004.

Though he would have liked to have heard more whistles on offense so he could attempt more free-throws, Duncan still almost averaged a double-double. He ultimately won a bronze medal while averaging 12.9 points and 9.1 rebounds over eight games.

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Kevin Garnett, USA

KG was the face of the Minnesota Timberwolves from 1995 to 2007, and he won an NBA title with the Boston Celtics in 2008. With the USA at the Sydney Olympics, Garnett was a leader on both ends of the court as the Americans navigated a difficult tournament to win the gold medal.

Garnett had the highest efficiency rating on the team of 17.0, was second in scoring (10.8 points per game) and No. 1 in rebounding (9.1 rebounds per game). He finished with double-doubles in three of the USA's last four games, including a 12-point, 14-rebound effort in a Semi-Final against Lithuania that USA won after a thrilling finish.

Steve Nash, CAN

Before Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, there was Nash. With Canada, Nash was MVP of the FIBA AmeriCup in 1999. One year later, he led the team to the Quarter-Finals of the Olympics in Sydney.

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At the FIBA AmeriCup in 2003, Nash signed off from international basketball with another MVP award but Canada didn't clinch a spot in the 2004 Olympics. His scoring, passing and leadership for the Phoenix Suns made Nash the best player in the NBA in both 2004-05 and 2005-06. Nash was inducted to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2020.

Dirk Nowitzki, GER

Nowitzki was a basketball god for his all-time NBA club, the Dallas Mavericks, and with Germany's national team. At the 2002 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Indianapolis, Nowitzki was the tournament MVP as the Germans won the Third-Place Game. At FIBA EuroBasket 2005, Nowitzki was MVP after leading Germany to the Final.

He was MVP of the 2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens after putting his country on his back and getting it to the Beijing Games. One of the best players in the NBA for most of his two decades in the league, Nowitzki was the league MVP in 2006 and an NBA champion in 2011. He was a Global Ambassador for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Kobe Bryant, USA

Kobe had an amazing career, and especially late on. After helping carry the USA to the FIBA AmeriCup title in 2007, Kobe was named MVP of the 2007-08 NBA season. He then rejoined USA and made sure they returned to the top of the Olympic podium by coming up with one of international basketball's most iconic plays. In the Gold Medal Game against Spain and in the fourth quarter, Bryant buried a 3-ball and was fouled by Rudy Fernandez. He made the free-throw for a four-point play that effectively sealed the gold for the Americans.

Bryant also played for the USA at the 2012 Olympics as they defended their championship in London. Bryant was a Global Ambassador for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China.

LeBron James, USA

The King, a four-time NBA MVP, claimed the honor as 2024 Olympics MVP when he helped fire the USA to the gold medal in Paris. Playing at the Games for fourth time in his career, James won his third gold to go with the bronze from the 2004 Athens Games. He averaged 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists. He also won the Third-Place Game to reach the podium at the FIBA World Cup 2006 in Japan.

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The gold and MVP achievements added to what has been a spectacular career for James, a four-time NBA champion and four-time league MVP.

Derrick Rose, USA

The lightning-quick point guard of the Chicago Bulls showed up for international duty with the USA at the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Istanbul and set the tournament alight, helping the Americans capture the title.

He returned to the NBA for the following season and earned the MVP honor. Rose also played at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and won that title.

Kevin Durant, USA

Arguably the greatest USA player of all time, Durant exploded onto the international basketball scene at the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Cup, when he averaged 22.8 points per game. The USA's most reliable scorer in that team, KD famously had 33 points in the Quarter-Final triumph over Russia, 38 in the Semi-Final Win over Lithuania and 28 in the title game victory over Türkiye.

Durant then played starring roles in the USA's next four Olympic gold medal winning teams, including the Tokyo Games in 2021 when he was MVP of the event. Durant's two NBA title wins came in 2017 and 2018 with the Golden State Warriors.

Stephen Curry, USA

A member of the USA teams that captured world titles in 2010 and 2014, Curry made his long-awaited debut at the Olympics in Paris last year and had the tournament of a lifetime. His two iconic performances were against Serbia in the Semi-Finals and France in the Gold Medal Game. Curry was 9 of 14 from deep and scored 36 points and the Americans hit back from a double-digit deficit entering the fourth quarter to stun Serbia.

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Curry had 24 points after drilling 8 3-balls in the 98-87 Gold Medal Game success against France. Curry was named to the Olympics All-Star Five.

Russell Westbrook, USA

One of the big surprises of the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Cup for his sheer high-flying dominance, Westbrook was a crucial member of that team that reached the top of the podium and he followed that up with an equally dynamic effort at the London Olympics two years later.

Westbrook was the NBA's MVP for the 2016-2017 season after averaging a triple double (31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists) for Oklahoma City.

James Harden, USA

"The Beard" burst onto the Olympic scene with USA in 2012, helping the Americans capture gold in London, and two years later narrowly missed out on the MVP honor at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain after averaging a team-high 14.2 points per game for a USA team that steamrolled the competition.

Harden is the last American to earn the NBA's MVP award following a terrific 2017-18 season with the Houston Rockets.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, GRE

The Greek Freak, who earned two MVP awards (2019, 2020), has been a star in the Greece team since the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup. His biggest achievement for his country was to come back from injury and earn the MVP honor at the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Piraeus, where he led the Greeks to their first appearance at the Summer Games since the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Antetokounmpo then dug deep and carried Greece to the Quarter-Finals in Paris. Giannis led the Milwaukee Bucks to the 2021 NBA title.

Nikola Jokic, Serbia

The Joker claimed the first of his three MVP awards in the NBA in 2021, but he was a FIBA star long before. At the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, he was the MVP after leading Serbia to first place. Then at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Jokic showed flashes of greatness as Serbia reached the Gold Medal Game.

His finest hour with Serbia came at the 2024 Olympics, where he sparked the team in an amazing come-from-behind overtime win against Australia. After almost leading his country past USA in the Semi-Finals, Jokic had 19 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists in a 93-83 Bronze Medal Game victory over Germany.

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Jokic was not the MVP of the Olympics yet no one would have been surprised if he had been after averaging 18.8 points, 10.7 rebounds and 8.7 assists. He was named to the tournament's All-Star Five.

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Joel Embiid, USA

The Cameroon-born Embiid heard some boos in Paris since he elected to play for the USA, despite having received a French passport.

Embiid didn't let that bother him because he had some really good games, and especially in the Semi-Final triumph over Serbia. He finished with 19 points in that game to help the Americans get to the Gold Medal Game.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Shai has been the conductor of the Canada orchestra the last two summers, leading them to a spot on the podium at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup and then to the Quarter-Finals of the 2024 Olympics.

At the World Cup, he was named to the All-Star Five after boasting Canada best averages in efficiency (30.4 per game), points (24.5), rebounds (6.4) and assists (6.4). Shai finished second in the MVP voting to Jokic in 2024.

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