So, there’s a lot of discussion on how the NBA Finals MVP is picked? With Luka’s performance in the 2024 Finals so far, the related question is if the MVP has to be on the winning team? Some years, it’s pretty obvious which player has played above and beyond the level of the others on their winning team. Other years, it’s a little more ambiguous (see Andre Iguodala winning in 2015). We’ll get into the process a bit, then show you who has won the Bill Russell MVP award the past 15 or so years.
How the NBA Finals MVP is Picked?
If you want to know how the NBA Finals MVP is picked, the process is straight forward. There are 11 media members selected ahead of the finals. After the last game (ie we have a champion), those 11 folks cast a vote for who they think the MVP should be. The voters are normally picked from a group of national and international sports reporters.
The number of media memebers voting is always 11 so the chance of the voting ending in a tie is reduced. We also don’t get to know who is voting ahead of the Finals to keep from being able to include the voters, but after the vote happens, the voting is released. Here were the eleven voters that made Jaylen Brown the 2024 NBA Finals MVP:
| Voter | Organization | Voted For |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Amick | The Athletic | Jaylen Brown |
| Malika Andrews | ESPN | Jayson Tatum |
| Tim Bontemps | ESPN | Jaylen Brown |
| Doris Burke | ABC | Jayson Tatum |
| PJ Carlesimo | ESPN | Jayson Tatum |
| Mike Curtis | Dallas Morning News | Jaylen Brown |
| Vince Goodwill | Yahoo | Jaylen Brown |
| Shaun Powell | NBA.com | Jaylen Brown |
| Simone Sandri | La Gazetta dello Sport | Jaylen Brown |
| Gary Washburn | Boston Globe | Jayson Tatum |
| Jeff Zillgitt | USA Today | Jaylen Brown |
Does the Finals MVP have to be on the Winning Team?
There is no rule that requires the NBA Finals MVP to be on the winning team. Convention has taken over here. Jerry West was the last player to win the MVP being on the losing team for the LA Lakers in 1969. Of the other 54 Finals MVP awards, none have gone to a player on the losing team since then. Not to say we won’t see this, but there you go.
Who has the Most NBA Finals MVP Awards?
Of the 55 NBA Finals MVP awards, Michael Jordan has won the most with six awards. Lebron James has the second-most MVP awards with four. The trophy did not have its own title until 2008. From then on, the NBA now calls the winner the Bill Russell Finals MVP Award winner. Kobe Bryant was the first player to earn the trophy under the new name.
Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Winners (Since 2009)
Here are all of the NBA Finals winners since it was rebranded to the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP. The Joker won it in 2023. We’ll update the list once we’ve had a 2024 MVP winner selected and announced for you.
| Player | Year | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Jaylen Brown | 2024 | Boston Celtics |
| Nikola Jokic | 2023 | Denver Nuggets |
| Stephen Curry | 2022 | Golden State Warriors |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | 2021 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| LeBron James | 2020 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Kawhi Leonard | 2019 | Toronto Raptors |
| Kevin Durant | 2018 | Golden State Warriors |
| Kevin Durant | 2017 | Golden State Warriors |
| LeBron James | 2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Andre Iguodala | 2015 | Golden State Warriors |
| Kawhi Leonard | 2014 | San Antonio Spurs |
| LeBron James | 2013 | Miami Heat |
| LeBron James | 2012 | Miami Heat |
| Dirk Nowitzki | 2011 | Dallas Mavericks |
| Kobe Bryant | 2010 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Kobe Bryant | 2009 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Paul Pierce | 2008 | Boston Celtics |
| Tony Parker | 2007 | San Antonio Spurs |
| Dwyane Wade | 2006 | Miami Heat |
| Tim Duncan | 2005 | San Antonio Spurs |
| Chauncey Billups | 2004 | Detroit Pistons |
| Tim Duncan | 2003 | San Antonio Spurs |
2023 NBA Finals MVP Award Highlights
Here’s the video highlights of Nikola Jokic winning the 2023 NBA Finals MVP award.
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