When I first made this blog in 2019, June Mar Fajardo dominated the PBA. Since entering the league in 2012, The Kraken has had six PBA MVP titles - the most numbers held by a single player in league history.
Unfortunately, The Kraken suffered a freak injury a couple of years back and while we can place an asterisk on Stanley Pringle's accomplishments during the 2020-21 PBA season (since it's more of a conference than a season), there will be a new MVP in the 2021-22 PBA season (as of this writing).
This prompted me to check out the historical figures of other pro leagues to see if they have an ultra-dominating guy in their league in the same mold as our June Mar Fajardo.
And here’s what I found out.
BOBAN MARJANOVIC
THREE MVPs IN THREE SEASONS - 2013 to 2015
SERBIA | SERBIAN SUPER LEAGUE
Euro June Mar in the house! Also, when you flip 15… it’s 51! JUNE MAR MUST HAVE SERBIAN ANCESTRY? Boban won three straight in the second part of the Serbian season. Luka Doncic's favorite teammate has won three consecutive Serbian Super League MVP awards from 2013 to 2015.
LEON RODGERS
THREE MVPs IN THREE SEASONS
NETHERLANDS | DUTCH BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Leon Rodgers once played in the PBA. Yes, the three-time DBL MVP saw action for the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the 2014 PBA Commissioner’s Cup. The Kings finished with a woeful 3-6 record though. Rodgers led Ginebra with a 2-4 record and was replaced by Josh Powell… and Ginebra finished the conference with Gabe Freeman.
GEORGIE TORRES
THREE MVPs IN THREE SEASONS
PUERTO RICO | BALONCESTO SUPERIOR NACIONAL
There have been guys like Juan Vicens, Teofilo Cruz, and Mario Morales who won the plum four times. And apart from Torres, Juan Baez, Raymond Dalmau, and Christian Dalmau won the award three times. I mean... only a guy with Wikipedia access could know this, right?
Who are these guys? Beats me!
Anyway, I chose Torres over these guys because he is the only player to win the MVP award in three straight successions. Other names to win the award are former PBA imports Mike Harris of the Alaska Aces and Peter John Ramos of Kia Carnival and San Miguel-Alab Pilipinas.
LEO GUTIERREZ
FOUR MVPs IN SIX SEASONS
ARGENTINA | LIGA NACIONAL DE BASQUET
From 2004-05 to 2009-10, Leo Gutierrez is the king of Argentinean pro ball. Aside from the four MVPs, he is also a four-time Finals MVP and he led his teams to a record ten championships. He also won a gold medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics in which he teamed with the likes of Manu Ginobili, Luis Scola, Carlos Delfino, Pepe Sanchez, Andres Nocioni, and former LNB MVPs that have played in the NBA like Fabricio Oberto, Ruben Wolkowyski, and Walter Hermann. That's the thing with Guttierez though. Not to knock on his talents and accomplishments but maybe the reason he got this many awards is that most of the top Argentinian stars are playing overseas.
WENDELL ALEXIS
FOUR MVPs IN SIX SEASONS
GERMANY | BASKETBALL BUNDESLIGA
So ALBA Berlin had this player called Wendell Alexis and this American played like a beast for the squad – winning four MVPs from 1996-97 to 2001-02. With that said, his reigns were cut short by two men – former Sacramento King Derrick Phelps in 2000-01 and European Legend Dirk Nowitzki in 1998-99 which prompted the Dallas Mavericks to trade for his services.
YI JIANLIAN
FOUR MVPs IN FOUR SEASONS
CHINESE BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
The former sixth pick of the 2007 NBA Draft had four MVPs in four seasons from the 2012-13 CBA season to 2015-16. With that said, Yi is the reverse version of Yao Ming – as he dominated the CBA after gaining experience from his so-so NBA stint. I also considered Mengke Bateer who had four MVPs in six years but his 2005-06 MVP was returned because he had the GRAVE infraction of arguing with a referee. GRAVE!!!
TANOKA BEARD
FOUR MVPs IN FOUR SEASONS
LITHUANIAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE
The American spent the 2003-04 season up until the 2006-07 season on top of the Lithuanian basketball food chain. Beard would also help Zalgiris Kaunas to four Lithuanian League titles.
KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR
FIVE MVPs IN SEVEN SEASONS
UNITED STATES | NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Bill Russell had four MVPs in five years. Lebron James had four MVPs in five years. Wilt Chamberlain and Larry Bird had three consecutive MVP awards. Magic Johnson had three MVPs in four years. But yeah as far as streaks, it took the likes of Dave Cowens and Bob McAdoo to mess up Abdul-Jabbar’s streak. Despite this though, The Master of the Sky Hook is seen by many as one of the best careers the league has ever witnessed. And if we add his sixth MVP to the mix, Kareem basically has six MVPs in a decade… and it’s not a bad feat to accomplish.
ANTOINE RIGAUDEAU
FIVE MVPs IN SIX SEASONS
FRANCE | LIGUE NATIONALE DE BASKET PRO A
From 1990-91 to 1993-94, Antoine Rigaudeau of Cholet won the league’s MVP award for four consecutive seasons. This should have been five consecutive but the reign of Yann Bonato got in the way. Le Roi or The King in his native France would eventually play for the Dallas Mavericks but would retire after a serious knee injury.
NIKOS GALIS
FIVE MVPs IN FIVE SEASONS
GREECE | GREEK BASKET LEAGUE
From 1988 to 1992, Nick Galis of Aris owned Greek Basket’s top individual prize. Actually, Dimitris Diamantidis won the most MVPs with six but he won six in a span of nine seasons. Nick the Greek is widely considered one of the greatest players in the country but while he was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1979, he never played outside Greece.
ANDREW GAZE
SEVEN MVPs IN EIGHT SEASONS
AUSTRALIA | NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Seen by many as the greatest Australian to play the sport, Gaze could have eight straight MVPs from 1991 to 1998 had it not been for Robert Rose. But then again, maybe it’s not entirely Rose’s fault as Gaze would sacrifice the record for a stint with the Washington Bullets. Gaze would also have his five straight MVPs cut short when he signed and won a title with the San Antonio Spurs. Rose also had an NBA stint with the Los Angeles Clippers… and a PBA stint in 1990 for the Purefoods Hotdogs.
PBA Philippine Cup Best Player Calvin Abueva and PBA Governors Cup Best Player Scottie Thompson are the frontrunners to win the 2021-22 PBA MVP award with Philippine Cup Finals MVP Mikey Williams possibly becoming the first rookie MVP since Benjie Paras as the darkhorse.
At least June Mar is going to end up as the only local to average with a double-double this season.
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