ABA Most Valuable Player Award

Connie Hawkins holding the 1968 ABA MVP Trophy

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.

ABA Most Valuable Player