Who is the worst player to win each of the major NBA Awards?

By Rahul Raja | Jan 27, 2022

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors looks to drive on Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter at Chase Center on January 09, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 08: Dave Cowens, Center, of the Boston Celtics, drives on Center John Gianelli of the New York Knicks in an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden on November 8, 1973. Cowens scored 12 points in the game. The Celtics defeated the Knicks 94-84, Who is the worst player to win each of the major NBA Awards?. (Photo By Ross Lewis/Getty Images) /

Who is the worst player to win each of the major NBA Awards?: MVP – Dave Cowens (1973)

With star talent split between the NBA and the American Basketball Association (ABA), the mid-1970s saw some weak MVP winners. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar dominated this era, winning the award in 1971, 1972, 1974, and 1976. Squeezed in between two of those wins came Dave Cowens.

The 6-9 center for the Boston Celtics did play well. The team went 68-14, which was the best record in the league. The other teams with over 60 wins were Kareem’s Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers led by the aging duo of Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West.

No player on another team was really going to win it. Kareem was suffering from voter fatigue and the Lakers and the New York Knicks were too balanced with multiple good players.

The award going to the best player on the best team is standard fare. However, it wasn’t clear at all who the best player on the Boston Celtics was. After Bill Russell and Sam Jones retired in 1969, John “Hondo” Havlicek slid into the position of “the best player” on the team, with Dave Cowens as his co-star. Hondo led them in points (on better true shooting percentage), assists, and win shares.

In fact, the media recognized that Havlicek was the real star of this Celtics team, voting him to the All-NBA First Team and Cowens to the All-NBA Second Team. Since the MVP was voted on by the players at this time, rather than the media, Cowens was able to win the award.