5 Legends who did not win the NBA MVP award in their careers

#3 Isiah Thomas - Best finish in the NBA MVP voting: 5th

Isiah Thomas #11, Point Guard for the Detroit Pistons dribbles the basketball.

Isiah Thomas was a huge name in the 1980s when he played for the Detroit Pistons. In the late 1980s, he even led the offense of a physically-intimidating Detroit team to the NBA championship and a trio of Finals appearances.

Thomas dominated the league in an era that was renowned for the numerous elite big men rather than guards. Despite winning two NBA championships with Detroit and a Finals MVP, Thomas did not win the NBA MVP.

In his career, Thomas finished once in the Top 5 of the NBA MVP voting. Fifth place was his best spot in MVP voting, and it happened in the 1983-84 season.

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#2 Elgin Baylor - Best finish in the NBA MVP voting: 2nd

Elgin Baylor.

Elgin Baylor is arguably the greatest player to never win an NBA Championship. He is also right up there with the greatest players to never win the NBA MVP award.

Baylor's career extended from 1958 and 1972, and he often ran into the 1960s Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals and into Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, or Oscar Robertson in the NBA MVP race.

For a player with averages of 30 points and 16 rebounds per game in the 1959-60 season, or 35 points and rebounds per game in the following season, not having an MVP on his resume is shocking.

In fact, that is not the most unfortunate fact from Baylor's career, as he also played in seven NBA Finals and lost each time. Baylor finished second in the NBA MVP voting in the 1962-63 season.

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#1 Jerry West - Best finish in the NBA MVP voting: 2nd (four times)

Jerry West.

Jerry West is the greatest player never to win the NBA MVP award. He arguably deserved the award a couple of times, but 'The Logo' could not get his hands on the award during his legendary career.

West played for the LA Lakers from 1960 to 1974, and won one NBA championship (in 1972) from nine Finals appearances. In the NBA MVP voting, West finished second four times (losing to Wilt Chamberlain, Willis Reed, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar twice).

Jerry West had some incredible seasons. In the 1965-66 NBA campaign, he averaged 31 points, seven rebounds, and six assists per game. However, he lost the MVP award to Chamberlain after the center averaged 34 points, 25 rebounds, and five assists per game.

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