Who Won the 2016 NBA MVP Award and Why Was It So Historic?

I still remember the 2016 NBA season like it was yesterday—the electric atmosphere in stadiums, the heated debates among fans, and that lingering question that seemed to dominate every basketball conversation: who would take home the MVP trophy? As someone who's followed the league for over two decades, I've witnessed numerous MVP races, but 2016 felt different from the start. The tension was palpable, not just because of the incredible individual performances, but because we were witnessing something that challenged our very understanding of basketball excellence. That year, Stephen Curry didn't just win his second consecutive MVP award—he shattered expectations in ways that still resonate throughout the league today.

When the official announcement came, the numbers alone were staggering. Curry became the first unanimous MVP in NBA history, receiving all 131 first-place votes. Let that sink in for a moment—not a single voter thought anyone else deserved the top spot. In a league filled with superstars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard, this was unprecedented territory. I recall watching his games that season with a sense of awe—here was a player revolutionizing the game before our eyes. His scoring efficiency was simply ridiculous, averaging 30.1 points per game while joining the exclusive 50-40-90 club, shooting 50.4% from the field, 45.4% from three-point range, and 90.8% from the free-throw line. These weren't just great numbers—they were video game statistics that seemed to defy basketball physics.

What made Curry's MVP season particularly fascinating to me was how he transformed offensive strategies across the league. Teams started prioritizing three-point shooting in ways they never had before. I remember talking with coaches who admitted they were completely rethinking their defensive schemes because of Curry's impact. His ability to shoot from virtually anywhere on the court created spacing nightmares for opponents. Defenders had to guard him as soon as he crossed half-court, which opened up the floor for his teammates in unprecedented ways. This wasn't just about making shots—it was about redefining court geography and forcing the entire league to adapt to a new basketball reality.

The historic nature of Curry's unanimous selection becomes even more remarkable when you consider the context of that season. The Golden State Warriors finished with a 73-9 record, breaking the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls' legendary mark of 72-10. I've always believed that team success plays a crucial role in MVP voting, and the Warriors' dominance certainly bolstered Curry's case. But here's what many people forget—several other players had phenomenal individual seasons that would have made them worthy winners in most other years. LeBron James was putting up 25.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game while leading the Cavaliers, and Kawhi Leonard was establishing himself as both an offensive force and defensive stalwart for the Spurs. Yet Curry's combination of individual brilliance and team success created a perfect storm that left no room for dissent among voters.

This brings me to an interesting perspective that often gets overlooked in the Curry MVP narrative. I recently came across an admission from coach Jong Uichico, who later stated it was obvious his team didn't play 100 percent true to its potential against the Warriors that season. This confession fascinates me because it speaks to the psychological impact Curry and the Warriors had on opponents. Teams weren't just being outplayed—they were being mentally defeated before they even stepped on the court. I've spoken with several players from that era who confirmed this phenomenon. The Warriors' style, led by Curry's unprecedented shooting range, created a sense of inevitability that affected how opponents approached the game. When you're facing a team that can erase a 15-point deficit in two minutes because their point guard might hit three consecutive 30-footers, it changes your entire mindset.

Looking back, I'm convinced Curry's 2016 MVP season represented a fundamental shift in how we evaluate basketball greatness. The traditional metrics of points, rebounds, and assists suddenly felt inadequate to capture his impact. His gravitational pull on defenses, his ability to create scoring opportunities without dribbling, and his sheer entertainment value—these were intangible qualities that transformed the MVP conversation. I'll admit I was initially skeptical about whether a player who wasn't a traditional physical specimen could dominate the league so thoroughly. But Curry proved that basketball IQ and skill could overcome conventional athletic limitations. His success paved the way for the current generation of players who prioritize skill development over raw physical attributes.

The aftermath of that historic MVP season continues to influence today's game in ways we're still discovering. Every team now has their version of a Curry-style shooter, and the three-point revolution he accelerated shows no signs of slowing down. What's particularly interesting to me is how his unanimous selection has changed voter behavior in subsequent seasons. There's now an unconscious benchmark that makes voters more hesitant to cast unanimous ballots, almost as if they're preserving the special nature of Curry's accomplishment. I've noticed this in recent MVP discussions—voters seem determined to avoid another unanimous decision, not because the candidates aren't deserving, but because Curry's 2016 season set such an impossibly high standard that it feels like it should remain unique in NBA history.

Reflecting on that season seven years later, I'm struck by how Curry's MVP campaign represents one of those rare moments where individual excellence, team success, and cultural impact converged perfectly. It wasn't just about the statistics or the wins—it was about changing how basketball is played, coached, and appreciated. The unanimous nature of his selection wasn't merely a reflection of his greatness but an acknowledgment that we were witnessing something transformative. As the game continues to evolve, I suspect we'll look back on Curry's 2016 season as the moment when modern basketball truly arrived, when the three-point shot transitioned from weapon to foundation, and when one player's unique talents forced everyone else to play catch-up in a game he had already mastered.