10 times NBA players were robbed of the MVP award

Alan Diaz/AP

Michael Jordan was robbed in the 1988 – 1989 and 1996 – 1997 seasons.
LeBron James was denied by Derrick Rose in 2011.
Kobe Bryant beat out Chris Paul for the honor in 2008.
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Aside from taking home the whole championship, the Most Valuable Player award is the most prestigious trophy in the NBA.

But what exactly is the criteria for winning MVP? There are conflicting definitions. Is it the best player in the league? Is it the one who has made the biggest impact on the game? Or is it the player who is considered most instrumental in his team’s success? Could it be a combination of all three?

This uncertainty has led to some major snubs over the years for the coveted accolade. Here are some of the players who should have taken home the Maurice Podoloff Trophy.

LeBron James lost out to Derrick Rose in 2011.

M. Spencer Green/AP

LeBron James is certainly not lacking for MVP awards. The self-proclaimed King James has won four trophies. But he could have added another to his collection in the 2010 – 2011 season. That summer James polarized the basketball world by leaving his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers and taking his talents to South Beach to play for the Miami Heat in a highly publicized and widely panned television special known as "The Decision."

James silenced critics by averaging 26.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and seven assists per game. However he still finished third in MVP voting behind Orlando’s Dwight Howard and winner, Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose who received 113 out of 121 first-place votes. James bested Rose in almost every category, including twice the number of rebounds and was only .7 behind in assists. Many believe James’ unpopular offseason moves affected the voting outcome.

Shaquille O’Neal was shafted in 2005.

Rusty Kennedy/AP

After the 2004 – 2005 season, point guard Steve Nash won his first MVP award by averaging 15.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 11.5 assists in his first season back with the Phoenix Suns since being traded to the Dallas Mavericks in the summer of 1998. Meanwhile, superstar center Shaquille O’Neal put up 22.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.3 blocks per game in his inaugural season with the Miami Heat, in addition to shooting a scorching 60% from the field.

O’Neal and the Heat won the championship, but he finished second in voting behind Nash.

Charles Barkley was outdone in the 1989-1990 season.

Tonya Evatt/AP

The outspoken NBA analyst and Hall of Famer formerly known as the Round Mound of Rebound was quite a force during his playing days. He led the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals in 1993 before falling to Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls in six games. On the plus side, Barkley was awarded MVP for the first and only time in his career. But long before he joined the Suns, Barkley spent several years as the Philadelphia 76ers’ superstar forward. In the 1989 – 1990 season Sir Charles logged 25.2 points per game, 11.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists,1.9 steals, and a torrid 60% shooting from the floor. Still, Magic Johnson picked up the award for the third time despite scoring at a 22.3 ppg clip and 48% field goal percentage.

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