I still remember watching that incredible Game 7 last March 28th between TNT and Ginebra - you know, the one that went into overtime and ended 87-83 in favor of the Tropang Giga. That game had everything you'd expect from MVP-caliber players: clutch shots, defensive stops when it mattered most, and that special intensity that only elite athletes can summon when the championship is on the line. Watching those players perform under pressure got me thinking about what truly separates great basketball players from the absolute legends - the ones who've earned that coveted MVP recognition throughout NBA history.

Now, when we talk about NBA MVPs, we're discussing a completely different level of basketball excellence. I've always been fascinated by how these players consistently deliver extraordinary performances, much like what we witnessed in that TNT-Ginebra showdown, but sustained over an entire season. Let me take you through some of the most remarkable MVP stories that have shaped the league. Starting way back in 1956 when Bob Pettitt of the St. Louis Hawks became the very first recipient, the MVP award has recognized players who don't just put up numbers but actually elevate their teams and transform games. What I love about tracking MVP history is seeing how the definition of "most valuable" has evolved - from dominant big men to versatile guards, from physical power to basketball IQ.

Speaking of elevating teams, let's talk about Bill Russell. The man won 5 MVP awards between 1961 and 1965, which is absolutely mind-boggling when you think about it. I've spent hours watching old footage of Russell, and what strikes me isn't just his defensive genius but how he made everyone around him better - something we saw in that Commissioner's Cup finals too, where team chemistry ultimately decided the championship. Russell's Celtics were like a well-oiled machine, and he was the engine. Then came Wilt Chamberlain with his unbelievable 1967-68 season where he averaged what felt like a million points (okay, it was actually 24.3 points and 23.8 rebounds - numbers that still make my jaw drop). The rivalry between Russell and Chamberlain set the standard for what MVP competition should look like - two giants pushing each other to greater heights.

The 70s brought us Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who won a record-setting 6 MVP awards throughout his career. I've always been partial to Kareem's skyhook - there's something beautifully unstoppable about that shot, much like how dominant MVP winners can be when they're in their groove. What many casual fans don't realize is that Kareem won his first MVP in 1971 and his last in 1980, spanning nearly a decade of excellence. That longevity is what separates good players from all-time greats. Then Magic Johnson and Larry Bird revitalized the league in the 80s with their captivating rivalry - Magic with his flashy passes and Bird with his dead-eye shooting. I'll admit I've always been slightly more partial to Bird's trash-talking, sharpshooting style - there's something about a player who can tell you exactly what he's going to do and then actually do it.

Michael Jordan's MVP seasons in 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, and 1998 represent what I consider the golden era of basketball. Jordan wasn't just winning games; he was redefining what was possible on a basketball court. I remember watching his famous "flu game" in the 1997 finals and thinking - this is why MVPs are different. They push through barriers that would stop ordinary players. The 2000s gave us Tim Duncan's quiet dominance, Steve Nash's revolutionary playmaking (I'll always argue Nash's back-to-back MVPs in 2005 and 2006 were among the most deserved in history), and Dirk Nowitzki's unforgettable 2007 season where he practically carried the Mavericks on his back.

More recently, we've witnessed LeBron James' four MVP awards spread across two different teams, Kevin Durant's emotional 2014 acceptance speech after winning his first MVP, and Stephen Curry's unanimous 2016 MVP - the first in NBA history. As much as I appreciate LeBron's physical dominance, I've always been drawn to Curry's game-changing shooting ability. Watching him pull up from what feels like half-court and swish it consistently is like watching basketball magic. The way the game has evolved to value three-point shooting owes so much to Curry's MVP seasons.

What ties all these MVP stories together - from Russell to Curry - is that same quality we saw in that intense TNT-Ginebra Game 7: the ability to perform when everything's on the line. MVPs aren't just statistically impressive; they have that intangible quality that transforms close games into historic victories. They're the players kids emulate on playgrounds and the ones whose jerseys we still wear decades later. As I look back at that 87-83 overtime thriller between TNT and Ginebra, I can't help but see echoes of all the great MVP moments throughout NBA history - that perfect combination of skill, determination, and heart that separates the good from the truly legendary.