It may not be league MVP, Finals MVP or even In-Season Tournament MVP, but at the end of the day, the All-Star Game MVP is still a Most Valuable Player honor.
The trophy, which was officially changed to the NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant MVP in 2020 to honor the former Lakers superstar, has been handed out since the 1950s, going to a plethora of talented hoopers. Only a select few in NBA history have earned the All-Star Game MVP multiple times. Among those are greats of the game such as Shaquille O'Neal, Magic Johnson, Allen Iverson and even Bryant himself.
Here is more on the history of the NBA All-Star Game MVP and who has won the most MVPs.
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History of NBA All-Star Game MVP winners
Damian Lillard was named MVP of the 2024 NBA All-Star Game.
Lillard led the Eastern Conference in a historic performance, scoring 39 of the team's 211 points. He shot 14-for-26 from the field and 11-for-23 from 3-point range.
Jayson Tatum was named the All-Star Game MVP in 2023 with a historic performance of his own that saw him set a new record with 55 points. Warriors star Stephen Curry earned the honor in 2022 with another explosive performance, finishing with 50 points while making 16 3-pointers.
In 1951, Ed Macauley became the first player to be named MVP of the All-Star Game.
| Year | Player | Team |
| 2024 | Damian Lillard | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2023 | Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics |
| 2022 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors |
| 2021 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2020 | Kawhi Leonard | LA Clippers |
| 2019 | Kevin Durant | Golden State Warriors |
| 2018 | LeBron James | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2017 | Anthony Davis | New Orleans Pelicans |
| 2016 | Russell Westbrook | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 2015 | Russell Westbrook | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 2014 | Kyrie Irving | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2013 | Chris Paul | LA Clippers |
| 2012 | Kevin Durant | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 2011 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2010 | Dwyane Wade | Miami Heat |
| 2009 | Shaquille O'Neal (co-MVP) | Phoenix Suns |
| 2009 | Kobe Bryant (co-MVP) | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2008 | LeBron James | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2007 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2006 | LeBron James | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2005 | Allen Iverson | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2004 | Shaquille O'Neal | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2003 | Kevin Garnett | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 2002 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2001 | Allen Iverson | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2000 | Shaquille O'Neal (co-MVP) | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2000 | Tim Duncan (co-MVP) | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1999 | No game was played due to lockout | |
| 1998 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1997 | Glen Rice | Charlotte Hornets |
| 1996 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1995 | Mitch Richmond | Sacramento Kings |
| 1994 | Scottie Pippen | Chicago Bulls |
| 1993 | Karl Malone (co-MVP) | Utah Jazz |
| 1993 | John Stockton (co-MVP) | Utah Jazz |
| 1992 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1991 | Charles Barkley | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1990 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1989 | Karl Malone | Utah Jazz |
| 1988 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1987 | Tom Chambers | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1986 | Isiah Thomas | Detroit Pistons |
| 1985 | Ralph Sampson | Houston Rockets |
| 1984 | Isiah Thomas | Detroit Pistons |
| 1983 | Julius Erving | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1982 | Larry Bird | Boston Celtics |
| 1981 | Tiny Archibald | Boston Celtics |
| 1980 | George Gervin | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1979 | David Thompson | Denver Nuggets |
| 1978 | Randy Smith | Buffalo Braves |
| 1977 | Julius Erving | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1976 | Dave Bing | Washington Bullets |
| 1975 | Walt Frazier | New York Knicks |
| 1974 | Bob Lanier | Detroit Pistons |
| 1973 | Dave Cowens | Boston Celtics |
| 1972 | Jerry West | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1971 | Lenny Wilkens | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1970 | Willis Reed | New York Knicks |
| 1969 | Oscar Robertson | Cincinnati Royals |
| 1968 | Hal Greer | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1967 | Rick Barry | San Francisco Warriors |
| 1966 | Adrian Smith | Cincinnati Royals |
| 1965 | Jerry Lucas | Cincinnati Royals |
| 1964 | Oscar Robertson | Cincinnati Royals |
| 1963 | Bill Russell | Boston Celtics |
| 1962 | Bob Pettit | St. Louis Hawks |
| 1961 | Oscar Robertson | Cincinnati Royals |
| 1960 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia Warriors |
| 1959 | Elgin Baylor (co-MVP) | Minneapolis Lakers |
| 1959 | Bob Pettit (co-MVP) | St. Louis Hawks |
| 1958 | Bob Pettit | St. Louis Hawks |
| 1957 | Bob Cousy | Boston Celtics |
| 1956 | Bob Pettit | St. Louis Hawks |
| 1955 | Bill Sharman | Boston Celtics |
| 1954 | Bob Cousy | Boston Celtics |
| 1953 | George Mikan | Minneapolis Lakers |
| 1952 | Paul Arizin | Philadelphia Warriors |
| 1951 | Ed Macauley | Boston Celtics |
Who has won the most NBA All-Star Game MVP awards?
It's fitting that one of the leaders for All-Star Game MVPs has the trophy now named after him.
Kobe Bryant and Bob Pettit share the record for the most NBA All-Star Game MVP trophies. They are the only two players to win the All-Star Game MVP four times.
LeBron James is right behind the pair, as the Lakers star has won the award three times. The 39-year-old is tied with Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal and Oscar Robertson, who also won the award three times.
Eight players have won the award twice: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Allen Iverson, Magic Johnson, Karl Malone, Julius Irving, Isiah Thomas and Bob Cousy.
| Rank | Player | All-Star MVP awards |
| 1 | Kobe Bryant | 4 |
| Bob Pettit | 4 | |
| 3 | LeBron James | 3 |
| Michael Jordan | 3 | |
| Shaquille O'Neal | 3 | |
| Oscar Robertson | 3 | |
| 7 | Kevin Durant | 2 |
| Russell Westbrook | 2 | |
| Allen Iverson | 2 | |
| Magic Johnson | 2 | |
| Karl Malone | 2 | |
| Julius Erving | 2 | |
| Isiah Thomas | 2 | |
| Bob Cousy | 2 |