Which NBA team has had most number of All-Star Game MVP winners?
The NBA All-Star game features some of the best players in the league every season.
This special occasion is a nice change of pace for players, as they don't have to put in much effort when playing the game. The All-Star game is turning out to be a casual game where players have fun and break out their fancy moves to impress fans in attendance.
However, one pattern everyone has seemed to notice is the fact that NBA players tend to take the All-Star game seriously in the second half. That could be because of what's at stake, which is the All-Star MVP award. The Association would typically give the special award to the player who has performed the best.
Throughout the league's history, the LA Lakers have produced the most All-Star MVP winners. The franchise leads the NBA with a total of 11 winners so far. Let's break down all the winners over the years:
LA Lakers players have had 11 NBA All-Star MVP awards
Here are the players:
#1 George Mikan
George Mikan was the first Laker to win the NBA All-Star MVP award. Mikan scored 22 points and 16 rebounds. He was one of the most dominant big men in the league during his time and deservedly won the award in 1953.
#2 Elgin Baylor
In the 1959 All-Star Game, it was the first time the Association had to split the MVP award for more than one player.
Elgin Baylor was one of the players who won the special award with 24 points and 11 rebounds. The rookie shared the MVP honors with Bob Pettit, who was playing for the Atlanta Hawks at the time.
#3 Jerry West
Jerry West won the All-Star MVP award in 1972. He added 13 points, six rebounds and five assists to win the game for the West 112-110. It was a solid year for him, as he was named in the All-NBA and All-Defensive first team.
#4 Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson might be known for his unselfish style of basketball, but that doesn't mean he could not win an MVP award. One of the Most Valuable Player trophies he has won in his career is the All-Star MVP award. Johnson won it in 1990 when he put up 22 points, six rebounds and four assists.
A couple of years later, Johnson once again won the award, in the 1992 NBA All-Star Game. This time, he added 25 points and nine assists in what was his final All-Star appearance.
#5 Shaquille O'Neal
In the 2000 All-Star game, the league split the MVP award once again to the two dominant big men at the time.:Tim Duncan and Shaquille O'Neal. Representing the LA Lakers, Shaq had 22 points, nine rebounds, three blocks and three assists.
Come 2004, Shaquille O'Neal won his first All-Star MVP award all by himself. On that occasion, he added 24 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
#6 Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant was one of the most ferocious and competitive players on the court. Despite the All-Star Game serving as a break for NBA players to have fun, it's no surprise that Bryant still took the game seriously, especially during his younger years. He won his first All-Star MVP award in 2002, putting up 31 points, five rebounds and five steals.
In 2007, "Black Mamba" did it again, as he won his second award by putting up 31 points, six assists, six steals and five rebounds. Two years later, he won his third award, this time splitting it with his former teammate O'Neal. Bryant added 27 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals. Finally, in 2011, he won his fourth and last All-Star MVP award with 37 points, 14 rebounds and three steals.