Photos: NBA legends receiving their Finals MVP trophies

HoopsHype staff
·8 min read

The Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP award is one of the most prestigious in the sport of basketball. As such, when a player receives the distinction, it’s a huge honor, one that takes their legacy to another level.

Check out the NBA stars throughout the years receiving their Finals MVP trophies below.

2023: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Finals stats: 30.2 ppg, 14.0 rpg, 7.2 apg, 58.3 FG% and 42.1% 3P% in five games

2022: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

2021: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Finals stats: 35.2 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 5.0 apg, 61.8 FG% and 20.0 3P% in six games

2020: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

2019: Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors

Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors
Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors

2018: Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors

2017: Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors

Finals stats: 35.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 5.4 apg, 55.6 FG% and 47.4 3P% in five games

2016: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

Finals stats: 29.7 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 8.9 apg, 49.4 FG% and 37.1 3P% in seven games

2015: Andre Iguodala, Golden State Warriors

Finals stats: 16.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 4.0 apg, 52.1 FG% and 40.0 3P% in six games

2014: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs

Finals stats: 17.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.0 apg, 61.2 FG% and 57.9 3P% in five games

2013: LeBron James, Miami Heat

2012: LeBron James, Miami Heat

LeBron James
LeBron James

2011: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks

Finals stats: 26.0 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 2.0 apg, 41.6 FG% and 36.8 3P% in six games

2010: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe Bryant, MVP, Lakers
Kobe Bryant, MVP, Lakers

Finals stats: 28.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.9 apg, 40.5 FG% and 31.9 3P% in seven games

2009: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant

2008: Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics

2007: Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs

Tony Parker
Tony Parker

Finals stats: 24.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.3 apg, 56.8 FG% and 57.1 3P% in four games

2006: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

Dwyane Wade
Dwyane Wade

Finals stats: 34.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.8 apg, 46.8 FG% and 27.3 3P% in six games

2005: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs

Finals stats: 20.6 ppg, 14.1 rpg, 2.1 apg, 2.1 bpg and 41.9 FG% in seven games

2004: Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons

Finals stats: 21.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 5.2 apg, 50.9 FG% and 47.1 3P% in five games

2003: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs

Finals stats: 24.2 ppg, 17.0 rpg, 5.3 apg, 5.3 bpg and 49.5 FG% in six games

2002: Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, 2002
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, 2002

Finals stats: 36.3 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 3.8 apg, 2.8 bpg and 59.5 FG% in four games

2001: Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers

Shaquille O'Neal, Finals MVP, 2001
Shaquille O'Neal, Finals MVP, 2001

Finals stats: 33.0 ppg, 15.8 rpg, 4.8 apg, 3.4 bpg and 57.3 FG% in five games

2000: Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal

Finals stats: 38.0 ppg, 16.7 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.7 bpg and 61.1 FG% in six games

1999: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs

Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan

Finals stats: 27.4 ppg, 14.0 rpg, 2.4 apg, 2.2 bpg and 53.7 FG% in five games

1998: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls

Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan

Finals stats: 33.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, 42.7 FG% and 30.8 3P% in six games

1997 Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls

Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan

Finals stats: 32.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 6.0 apg, 45.6 FG% and 32.0 3P% in six games

1996: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls

Finals stats: 27.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.2 apg, 41.5 FG% and 31.6 3P% in six games

1995: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets

Finals stats: 32.8 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 5.5 apg, 2.0 bpg and 48.3 FG% in four games

1994: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets

Finals stats: 26.9 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 3.6 apg, 3.9 bpg and 50.0 FG% in seven games

1993: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls

1992: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls

1991: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls

Finals stats: 31.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 11.4 apg, 2.8 spg, 55.8 FG% and 50.0 3P% in five games

1990: Isiah Thomas, Detroit Pistons

Finals stats: 27.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 7.0 apg, 54.2 FG% and 68.8 3P% in five games

1989: Joe Dumars, Detroit Pistons

Finals stats: 27.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 6.0 apg, and 57.6 FG% in four games

1988: James Worthy, Los Angeles Lakers

Finals stats: 22.0 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 4.4 apg and 49.2 FG% in seven games

1987: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers

Finals stats: 26.2 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 13.0 apg, 54.1 FG% and 50.0 3P% in six games

1986: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics

Finals stats: 24.0 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 9.5 apg, 48.2 FG% and 36.8 3P% in six games

1985: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles Lakers

Finals stats: 25.7 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 5.2 apg, 1.5 bpg and 60.4 FG% in six games

1984: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics

Finals stats: 27.4 ppg, 14.0 rpg, 3.6 apg, 48.4 FG% and 66.7 3P% in seven games

1983: Moses Malone, Philadelphia 76ers

Finals stats: 25.8 ppg, 18.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.5 bpg and 50.7 FG% in four games

1982: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers

Finals stats: 16.2 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 8.0 apg, 2.5 spg and 53.3 FG% in six games

1981: Cedric Maxwell, Boston Celtics

Finals stats: 17.7 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 2.8 apg and 56.8 FG% in six games

1980: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers

Finals stats: 21.5 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 8.7 apg, 2.7 spg and 57.3 FG% in six games

1979: Dennis Johnson, Seattle SuperSonics

Finals stats: 22.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 6.0 apg, 1.8 spg, 2.2 bpg and 45.9 FG% in five games

1978: Wes Unseld, Washington Bullets

1977: Bill Walton, Portland Trail Blazers

Finals stats: 18.5 ppg, 19.0 rpg, 5.2 apg, 3.7 bpg and 54.5 FG% in six games

1976: Jo Jo White, Boston Celtics

Finals stats: 21.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 5.8 apg and 43.9 FG% in six games

1975: Rick Barry, Golden State Warriors

Finals stats: 29.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 5.0 apg, 3.5 spg and 44.4 FG% in four games

1974: John Havlicek, Boston Celtics

Finals stats: 26.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 4.7 apg, 1.9 spg and 42.9 FG% in seven games

1973: Willis Reed, New York Knicks

Finals stats: 16.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 2.6 apg and 47.9 FG% in five games

1972: Wilt Chamberlain, Los Angeles Lakers

Finals stats: 19.4 ppg, 23.2 rpg, 2.6 apg and 60.0 FG% in five games

1971: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee Bucks

Finals stats: 27.0 ppg, 18.5 rpg, 2.8 apg and 60.5 FG% in four games

1970: Willis Reed, New York Knicks

Finals stats: 23.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.8 apg and 48.4 FG% in six games

1969: Jerry West, Los Angeles Lakers

Finals stats: 37.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 7.4 apg, 49.0 FG% and 83.9 FT% in seven games. Lakers lost the Finals.

Story originally appeared on HoopsHype

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