ABA Most Valuable Player Award
The Most Valuable Player (MVP) was an annual award first awarded in the 1967–68 season. Every player who has won the award has played for a team with at least 45 regular-season wins. The inaugural award winner was Hall of Famer Connie Hawkins. Hall of Famer Julius Erving won the award three times, all with the New York Nets. Mel Daniels won it twice with the Indiana Pacers. Erving and George McGinnis were joint winners in the 1974–75 season.
Two rookies won the award: Spencer Haywood in the 1969–70 season and Artis Gilmore in the 1971–72 season. All are in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
| Season | Player | Position | Team | Playoff Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967–68 | Connie Hawkins* | Forward/center | Pittsburgh Pipers | Won 1968 ABA Finals |
| 1968–69 | Mel Daniels* | Center | Indiana Pacers | Lost in ABA Finals |
| 1969–70 | Spencer Haywood* | Forward/center | Denver Rockets | Lost in Division finals |
| 1970–71 | Mel Daniels* (2) | Center | Indiana Pacers | Lost in Division finals |
| 1971–72 | Artis Gilmore* | Center | Kentucky Colonels | Lost in Division semifinals |
| 1972–73 | Billy Cunningham* | Guard/forward | Carolina Cougars | Lost in Division finals |
| 1973–74 | Julius Erving* | Forward | New York Nets | Won ABA Finals |
| 1974–75 | Julius Erving* (2) | Forward | New York Nets | Lost in Division semifinals |
| 1974–75 | George McGinnis* | Forward/center | Indiana Pacers | Lost in ABA Finals |
| 1975–76 | Julius Erving* (3) | Forward | New York Nets | Won ABA Finals |
Erving and McGinnis both won the award for the 1974–75 season.
Daniels and Erving were the only multiple time winners.
Erving is the only player to also win the NBA Most Valuable Player Award.