NBA Finals MVP Award: how it works and Hall of Fame

The Finals MVP Award (Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award) has been awarded to the best player of the NBA Finals since 1968-69 season.

In 2009 assumed the name of Bill Russell, Boston Celtics’ legendary player and 11-time championship winner, who leads the all-time ranking.

Little facts about Finals MVP Award:

• Jerry West, first winner of the trophy, is the only awarded player from the team which lost the Final Series (in 1969 the Lakers were defeated by the Celtics);
• since 2011 the Award has been won only by forwards. The last guard awarded was Kobe Bryant in 2010 with the Lakers;
• the youngest MVP Finals winner is Magic Johnson in 1980 (20 years old);
• Tony Parker (in 2007) and Dirk Nowitzki (in 2011) are the only foreign players awarded;
• Michael Jordan is the most MVP Finals awarded player (6);
• Los Angeles Lakers is the franchise with most awarded players (13).

NBA Finals MVP Winner

NBA Finals MVP Multiple-awarded Players

NBA Finals MVP Multiple-awarded Franchises