Jun, 2017 kevin durant wins 2017 nba finals mvp award. Of course, thats not how it works the only losing player to ever be named most valuable player was jerry west. Finals mvp almost always is the top scorer of the winning team. The houston rockets are considered a great team after winning two. Hes the third player to win finals mvp with two franchises, joining only. Steph curry doesnt need a finals mvp to define his value.
Otoh, the 2011 champions blitzed the heat from all corners that i think dirk won the mvp partly because of his stellar play in the first few rounds. The team s coach was johnny red kerr, a former player with the. The star has only appeared in one championship so far, and that was back in 2012 as a member of the oklahoma city thunder against. Bird was denied the 1981 and 1982 season mvp awards, as well as the 1981 finals mvp, for various social, basketball and pc reasons. Regular season mvp kareem abduljabbar is in the hof. Leonard offered an expletive instead, and urged his team to win both. In cases when the race is at all close, the mvp should go to a player on the winning team, because the championship is more important than any stat.
He was a monster for the cavs when they lost two years ago and he was a monster again when he willed them to a win last year. Steph curry explains why hes not consumed with winning his first finals mvp. However, he wasnt the most valuable player on his own team or in any. Kawhi leonard, who won finals mvp in 2014 with the spurs, earned the honor for a. Never once did he give any indication of frustration. Without both kyrie irving knee and kevin love shoulder, james. The 2004, 2007, and 2008 champions were all so balanced that the big men who carried those teams defensively didnt win it. Cedric maxwell and chauncey billups are the only finals mvp winners eligible for the hall of fame who has not been voted in. So why should whether you lost by an in or a mile matter.
In that conferences finals, alaska, with mvp willie miller and best import rosell eliis, took on a talk n text team coached by derrick pumaren and were without jimmy alapag, asi taulava, and. The reigning regular season mvp, stephen curry, did not receive a single vote. The warriors winning their fourth title in five years on their home court in game 6 is the most popular pick here, though our panel and the statistical models predict this series to be much closer than the 2018 nba finals between golden state and the cleveland cavaliers. Jerry west becomes the first to win the nba finals mvp on a. This book went on to make the new york times bestsellers list. Jun 14, 2019 201415 andre iguodala, golden state warriors. As in, it doesnt matter if you scored 100 pts on 100% efficiency if you still lose in the end. But just because theres a precedent of something happening, it doesnt mean it should happen again. Andre iguodala is worst nba finals mvp in last 30 years. Jun 12, 2011 it might be a dumb question but has a player on the losing team of the nba finals ever win a finals mvp.
Jul 07, 2019 superstars who left their team via free agency after winning a championship. If curry is not selected, hell become the first player in n. Jun 01, 2015 in 1969, jerry west won the first mvp, and coincidentally, was the first player in nba history to win the finals mvp while playing for the losing team. Join a live hosted trivia game for your favorite pub trivia experience done virtually. Lebron james should be nba finals mvp even if cavaliers. A case could have been made for james two seasons ago, as well. Leonard made nba history as the first player to sign with a new team. But in steve kerrs book, there is no question that iguodala belongs in springfield. May 17, 2018 recent winners of the bill russell trophy as nba finals mvp. The brandnew chicago bulls franchise earned its first victory on october 15, 1966, with a 10497 win over the st. While james has put up historic numbers and has carried a shorthanded cavs team through every game, a former finals mvp weighed in with his thoughts about the mvp not being awarded to someone.
And as someone noted elsewhere, winning the finals is a team award, and the fmvp is a player award, so there is no disconnect there unless we can only give the mvp to the best regular season team continue this thread. Nba finals predictions title favorites and most likely mvp. Yearbyyear history of the chicago bulls chicago bulls. As i recall, magic johnson was the mvp in the 1980 finals of the lakers76ers.
West was named finals m vp, making him the o nly finals mvp from a losing team. Jerry west, the firstever awardee, is the only person to win the award while being on the losing team in the nba finals. Andre iguodala is the only winner to have not started every game in the series. Im sure he would love to win finals mvp, but hes much more about the team. Finals mvp dennis johnson is not in the hof although he should be 1981. Every day, well send you an email to your inbox with scores, todays schedule, top performers, new debuts and interesting facts and tidbits. It might be a dumb question but has a player on the losing team of the nba finals ever win a finals mvp. It was the shot that essentially sealed the nba finals for the warriors, and even at the time, it seemed to mean more than that. Whether that means its a finals mvp or not, who cares, but im going to be playing like it for sure. Below is an excerpt from the final submission for the book recapping lebron and the cavs game 7 victory over the golden state warriors. Andre iguodala was named the most valuable player of the 2015 nba finals, beating lebron james by a vote of 74.
To not recognize this level of play, when it stands so far above his own production in winning the finals mvp award twice, would be inconsistent. These snubs have helped alter his legacy and his alltime. They are the only players to win a regular season mvp award and to not win a championship in their career barkley, malone, iverson or yet in their career rose, nash. Hes the third player to win finals mvp with two franchises, joining only kareem. No other player has ever been named finals mvp in a losing effort. Jun 17, 2015 andre iguodala was named the most valuable player of the 2015 nba finals, beating lebron james by a vote of 74. Its also available for football, hockey and baseball. Why dennis rodman shouldve been the 1996 finals mvp. The bill russell nba finals most valuable player award formerly known as the nba finals most valuable player award is an annual national basketball association nba award given since the 1969 nba finals. Baseball and football, like basketball, have awarded only one finals m. The teams coach was johnny red kerr, a former player with the. Has a losing team player ever won a nba finals mvp. Superstars who left their team via free agency after. It doesnt matter whether you win by an inch or a mile.
Jun 08, 2018 if curry is not selected, hell become the first player in n. Durant is an obvious choice for the finals mvp if his team wins. Nba finals mvp winners through the years usa today. Im well aware jerry west won on the losing team in the first year it was handed out. If durant has a huge finals performance and the dubs win, he could get the mvp nod based on the logic of him being the teams missing link between winning and not winning. Winning a regular season mvp is also worth more in terms of your contract and bargaining position. When he retired, wests name was on nearly every page of the record books. The celtics 1969 victory proved to be the end of a significant chapter in nba history. In 2015, iguodala won the finals mvp after throwing a blanket on.
Nba awards finals mvp national basketball association espn. Recent winners of the bill russell trophy as nba finals mvp. It only makes sense for the most valuable player of an nba finals series to be part of the winning team. May 30, 2017 durant is an obvious choice for the finals mvp if his team wins. Kevin durant wins finals mvp for the second straight year. The finals mvp and the real mvp golden state of mind. Why larry legend deserved three more mvp awards celticsblog.
Jun 15, 2015 in cases when the race is at all close, the mvp should go to a player on the winning team, because the championship is more important than any stat. Aug 08, 2016 as i recall, magic johnson was the mvp in the 1980 finals of the lakers76ers. Why dennis rodman shouldve been the 1996 finals mvp youtube. The voters err clevelands lebron james deserved to win finals mvp, even in losing. No matter what leonard chooses, next season his max salary would start at. Kawhi leonard joins select company as 2time finals mvp cbc. Most people remember the final game of that series, where kareem was out, and magic jumped center and scored 42 points. Jul 17, 2016 i have nothing to add to all these versions of the correct answer. Do you consider regular season mvp or finals mvp more. Nov 27, 2015 bird was denied the 1981 and 1982 season mvp awards, as well as the 1981 finals mvp, for various social, basketball and pc reasons. A yearbyyear list of the bill russell nba finals mvp award winners. Has any player won the nba finals mvp award as a member of. Nba awards finals mvp national basketball association. The golden state warriors and cleveland cavaliers all have worthy candidates, but who has the best shot at winning finals mvp.
Warriors curry not worried about finals mvp award sfgate. It was on this day, may 5th, 1969, that jerry west became the first player in nba history to win the nba finals mvp on a losing team. Superstars who left their team via free agency after winning. Id just like to say that i watched that series and west deserved the award. Theres no rule that says the award has to go to a player on the winning team.
The c eltics 1969 victory proved to be the end of a significant chapter in nba history. Is it safe to say that no one else will win it if they are part of the losing team. James capped off an mvp performance in the nba finals with a. Jun 15, 2015 to not recognize this level of play, when it stands so far above his own production in winning the finals mvp award twice, would be inconsistent. I worked with triumph books to publish cleveland is king in 2016 after the cleveland cavaliers won the nba championship.
List of nba finals most valuable player award winners. Win or lose, lebron james should be your finals mvp. Comedy arts music books docs life parents kids kids news indigenous archives mycbc. Should lebron james or stephen curry be nba finals mvp. After lebron james not winning the finals mvp 2015. Lebron james should be nba finals mvp even if cavaliers lose. The cavs were valiant, but the warriors were ultimately too much, and they were paced by kevin durant, who averaged 28. Jerry west becomes the first to win the nba finals mvp on a losing team as his lakers fall to the celtics.
Ap insights ap definitive source ap images spotlight ap explore ap books. The cs tried to at least slow him down but he was out of sight all series long. Jerry west becomes the first to win the nba finals mvp on. Check out stats on every national basketball association finals mvp winner on. Nba finals most valuable player award winners basketball. Plenty of people said they preferred the finals mvp cause it means you were super important in winning a ring, but others were saying that. Leonard made nba history as the first player to sign with a new team in free agency after winning finals mvp. Steph curry called finals mvp a special award, but called it secondary.
Johnson is the only rookie ever to win the award, as well as the youngest at 20 years old. When lebron james led cleveland to game 7 win and 2016 nba title. The 2016 nba finals will be over in one week, maybe sooner. Curiously, even though magic johnson won the award and johnsons team won a league best 63 games the leagues only 60 win team that year and barkleys club only won 53 games, barkley received. Superstars who left their team via free agency after winning a championship. You werent the most valuable player on the court because whatever your value was, it didnt lead to your team winning. Should a player on a losing team ever win the finals mvp. If the other team had the mvp, the series likely would have turned in their favor. In that sense, andre iguodalas finals mvp is also one of stephs great accomplishmentsthe equivalent of his fabled scoreless game at davidson in 2008, in which his team won by 30 anyway. The golden state warriors made short work of the cleveland cavaliers, sweeping the cavs to win their third nba championship in four seasons.
May 30, 2018 whether that means its a finals mvp or not, who cares, but im going to be playing like it for sure. May 28, 2019 the warriors winning their fourth title in five years on their home court in game 6 is the most popular pick here, though our panel and the statistical models predict this series to be much. After completing a fourgame sweep of the cleveland cavaliers to win the 2018 nba championship, golden state warriors and nba finals mvp kevin durant celebrates with team employees, their family. In 1969, jerry west won the first mvp, and coincidentally, was the first player in nba history to win the finals mvp while playing for the losing team. The nba finals mvp almost always goes to the winning team. Curry played exceptionally in last years finals, averaging 26. Jun 08, 2018 the golden state warriors made short work of the cleveland cavaliers, sweeping the cavs to win their third nba championship in four seasons.
Dec 19, 2009 winning a regular season mvp is also worth more in terms of your contract and bargaining position. Leonard was not one of them, saying, lets go get both. Has a player on the losing team ever won the finals mvp. Year player team 201819 kawhi leonard, toronto raptors. Andre iguodala is worst nba finals mvp in last 30 years the.
West was named finals mvp, making him the only finals mvp from a losing team. Warriors, in full dynasty mode, sweep cavaliers in n. Jun 12, 2017 it only makes sense for the most valuable player of an nba finals series to be part of the winning team. I saw a discussion about this on a basketball website. If a virtual private party is more your thing, go here for details. The warriors winning their fourth title in five years on their home court in game 6 is the most popular pick here, though our panel and the statistical models predict this series to be much. Play sporcle s virtual live trivia to have fun, connect with people, and get your trivia on. I have nothing to add to all these versions of the correct answer.
799 1442 1593 519 364 1155 1628 762 1530 564 1594 387 1171 179 1481 1056 1578 787 1323 1087 899 1029 1122 1255 746 1468 160 1457 1353 330 753 448 481 1402 755