Last Updated on July 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
The NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (Finals MVP) Award is presented annually to the player who delivers the most outstanding performance during the NBA Finals. Introduced in 1969, the award honors the player who has the greatest impact on the championship series and is widely regarded as one of basketball’s most prestigious individual achievements.
NBA legends such as Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, and Stephen Curry have all captured the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award.
What Is the NBA Finals MVP Award?
The NBA Finals MVP Award recognizes the best player in the NBA Finals.
A panel of media members votes after the conclusion of the championship series, evaluating:
- Individual statistics
- Overall impact
- Leadership
- Clutch performances
- Contribution to the championship
Since 2009, the trophy has officially been named the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in honor of the Celtics legend.
Unlike the regular-season MVP, this award is based solely on NBA Finals performance.
NBA Finals MVP Winners by Season
| Season | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Jerry West | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1970 | Willis Reed | New York Knicks |
| 1971 | Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1972 | Wilt Chamberlain | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1973 | Willis Reed | New York Knicks |
| 1974 | John Havlicek | Boston Celtics |
| 1975 | Rick Barry | Golden State Warriors |
| 1976 | Jo Jo White | Boston Celtics |
| 1977 | Bill Walton | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1978 | Wes Unseld | Washington Bullets |
| 1979 | Dennis Johnson | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1980 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1981 | Cedric Maxwell | Boston Celtics |
| 1982 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1983 | Moses Malone | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1984 | Larry Bird | Boston Celtics |
| 1985 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1986 | Larry Bird | Boston Celtics |
| 1987 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1988 | James Worthy | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1989 | Joe Dumars | Detroit Pistons |
| 1990 | Isiah Thomas | Detroit Pistons |
| 1991 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1992 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1993 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1994 | Hakeem Olajuwon | Houston Rockets |
| 1995 | Hakeem Olajuwon | Houston Rockets |
| 1996 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1997 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1998 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1999 | Tim Duncan | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2000 | Shaquille O’Neal | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2001 | Shaquille O’Neal | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2002 | Shaquille O’Neal | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2003 | Tim Duncan | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2004 | Chauncey Billups | Detroit Pistons |
| 2005 | Tim Duncan | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2006 | Dwyane Wade | Miami Heat |
| 2007 | Tony Parker | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2008 | Paul Pierce | Boston Celtics |
| 2009 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2010 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2011 | Dirk Nowitzki | Dallas Mavericks |
| 2012 | LeBron James | Miami Heat |
| 2013 | LeBron James | Miami Heat |
| 2014 | Kawhi Leonard | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2015 | Andre Iguodala | Golden State Warriors |
| 2016 | LeBron James | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2017 | Kevin Durant | Golden State Warriors |
| 2018 | Kevin Durant | Golden State Warriors |
| 2019 | Kawhi Leonard | Toronto Raptors |
| 2020 | LeBron James | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2021 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2022 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors |
| 2023 | Nikola Jokić | Denver Nuggets |
| 2024 | Jaylen Brown | Boston Celtics |
| 2025 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma City Thunder |
Players with the Most NBA Finals MVP Awards
Several all-time greats have won the award multiple times:
| Player | Finals MVP Awards |
|---|---|
| Michael Jordan | 6 |
| LeBron James | 4 |
| Magic Johnson | 3 |
| Shaquille O’Neal | 3 |
| Tim Duncan | 3 |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 2 |
| Larry Bird | 2 |
| Hakeem Olajuwon | 2 |
| Kobe Bryant | 2 |
| Kevin Durant | 2 |
| Kawhi Leonard | 2 |
| Willis Reed | 2 |
Michael Jordan holds the NBA record with six Finals MVP awards.
Finals MVP Winners Who Also Won Regular-Season MVP
Many players have captured both the NBA MVP and Finals MVP awards during their careers, including:
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Magic Johnson
- Larry Bird
- Michael Jordan
- Hakeem Olajuwon
- Shaquille O’Neal
- Tim Duncan
- Kobe Bryant
- LeBron James
- Kevin Durant
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Nikola Jokić
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Winning both awards is considered one of the greatest accomplishments in basketball.
Interesting Facts
- Jerry West is the only player to win Finals MVP while playing for the losing team (1969).
- Michael Jordan won Finals MVP in all six of his NBA championship appearances.
- Shaquille O’Neal won three consecutive Finals MVP awards from 2000 to 2002.
- Stephen Curry won his first Finals MVP in 2022 despite leading three previous championship teams.
- Since 2009, the trophy has been officially named after Bill Russell, the NBA’s greatest champion.
Why the Award Matters
The NBA Finals MVP Award recognizes players who perform at their best on basketball’s biggest stage. While regular-season success is important, legendary postseason performances often define careers, and Finals MVP winners are remembered as the driving force behind championship teams.
The award is a cornerstone of Hall of Fame résumés and plays a significant role in debates over the greatest players in NBA history.
Related NBA Lists
- NBA MVP Winners
- NBA Champions (Players)
- NBA Finals Participants
- NBA Finals Appearances Leaders
- NBA All-NBA First Team Players
- NBA Defensive Player of the Year Winners
- NBA Hall of Fame Players
- NBA Championship Coaches