Who Was the 2016 NBA MVP and How Did They Achieve This Honor?

I remember watching the 2016 NBA season unfold with particular fascination, partly because we were witnessing something truly historic in Stephen Curry's unanimous MVP selection. Let me tell you, as someone who's followed basketball for over two decades, I'd never seen anything like it before. The voting process involves 100 media members casting ballots, and for Curry to receive every single first-place vote was absolutely unprecedented in NBA history. What made this even more remarkable was that he wasn't just winning—he was redefining how the game could be played.

The Golden State Warriors had just come off their 2015 championship, and many wondered if they could maintain that level of excellence. Not only did they maintain it, they shattered expectations by winning 73 regular-season games, breaking the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls' legendary record of 72 wins. Curry's numbers were simply video game-like: 30.1 points per game, 6.7 assists, and 5.4 rebounds while shooting an unbelievable 50.4% from the field, 45.4% from three-point range, and 90.8% from the free-throw line. That shooting efficiency from someone attempting over 11 three-pointers per game was something we'd never witnessed in basketball history.

What struck me most about Curry's season was how he achieved this dominance. He didn't rely on physical superiority or athleticism in the traditional sense. Instead, he revolutionized offensive basketball through what I like to call "gravity"—his shooting threat from anywhere beyond half-court forced defenses to stretch beyond their comfort zones, creating unprecedented spacing for his teammates. Defenses had to make impossible choices: either guard Curry tightly from 30 feet out and risk him blowing by you, or give him space and watch him drain shots from distances previously considered irresponsible to attempt.

The context of that season makes Curry's achievement even more impressive. He was competing against phenomenal players having incredible seasons themselves. Kawhi Leonard was establishing himself as a two-way force with the Spurs, LeBron James was doing LeBron things in Cleveland, Russell Westbrook was putting up historic triple-double numbers, and Kevin Durant was having another spectacular scoring season. Yet none of them received a single first-place vote—a testament to how dominant Curry's season was perceived to be.

Now, this brings me to an interesting perspective that relates to Uichico's later admission about his team not playing 100 percent true to its potential. Watching Curry that season, what stood out was how he consistently maximized his team's potential through his unique skill set. The Warriors' system under Steve Kerr perfectly complemented Curry's abilities, but it was Curry's willingness to play within that system while simultaneously transcending it that made the difference. He moved without the ball relentlessly, created for others, and maintained his efficiency despite being the focal point of every defensive scheme thrown at him.

I've always believed that true MVP performances reveal themselves in how players elevate their teams in crucial moments. Curry's 2016 season was filled with these moments—game-winners, explosive quarters that decided contests, and consistent excellence that gave his team confidence throughout the marathon 82-game season. His unanimous selection wasn't just about statistics; it was about how he made the extraordinary look routine night after night.

Reflecting on that season years later, what remains most impressive is how Curry's MVP campaign has aged. We've since seen other incredible individual seasons, but that 2016 performance still stands as a benchmark for offensive revolution in modern basketball. The way he balanced individual brilliance with team success—despite falling short in the Finals—demonstrated that regular season excellence deserves recognition regardless of postseason outcomes. His achievement reminds us that sometimes, we're privileged to witness players who don't just play the game better than others, but actually transform how it's played entirely.

The legacy of that unanimous MVP season continues to influence how we evaluate players today. It set new standards for shooting efficiency, offensive impact, and what constitutes valuable play. Personally, I find myself comparing every great shooting season to Curry's 2016 campaign, and so far, nobody has quite matched that perfect storm of volume, efficiency, and game-changing impact. It was a season that reminded us why we love sports—because occasionally, we get to witness someone rewrite the rules of what's possible.