Top 20 NBA Finals MVPs of All Time

Some collected the trophy six times, one took it home in a losing locker room, and a few needed a single unforgettable series. Where do you stand?

1

Michael Jordan

Six Finals appearances, six titles, six Finals MVP awards — the only perfect record on this list.

1000pts

2

LeBron James

Won Finals MVP four times with three different franchises, including the 2016 comeback from 3-1 down.

960pts

3

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Won his second at 38, still the oldest Finals MVP in league history.

862pts

4

Kevin Durant

Two in a row with Golden State, outscoring everyone on the floor both times.

767pts

5

Dirk Nowitzki

Carried Dallas past a superteam in 2011 in the most personal title run of the era.

705pts

6

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Won the 2025 award leading Oklahoma City to the franchise's first championship.

705pts

7

Willis Reed

Limped out for Game 7 in 1970 and won the award for what that did to the building.

548pts

8

Nikola Jokic

Averaged a triple-double across the 2023 Finals in Denver's first championship run.

448pts

9

Tim Duncan

Three Finals MVPs across nine years in San Antonio without ever raising his voice.

448pts

10

Kawhi Leonard

Two Finals MVPs with two franchises, and neither of them was the favourite.

448pts

11

Kobe Bryant

Won two after Shaq left, which was always the point he was trying to make.

448pts

12

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Closed the 2021 Finals with 50 points in Game 6 on a knee that had buckled weeks earlier.

448pts

13

Jerry West

The only Finals MVP ever awarded to a player on the losing team, in 1969.

448pts

14

Chauncey Billups

Won it in 2004 for a Detroit team nobody had picked to beat the Lakers.

329pts

15

Magic Johnson

Won it at 20 years old playing centre in Game 6, then twice more in the 1980s.

329pts

16

Stephen Curry

Finally won the individual award in 2022, four titles into his career.

329pts

17

Isiah Thomas

Won it in 1990 as the smallest player anyone had ever handed the trophy to.

183pts

18

Larry Bird

Two Finals MVPs in three years, both won against Hall-of-Fame frontcourts.

183pts

19

Hakeem Olajuwon

Back-to-back Finals MVPs in 1994 and 1995, the years Jordan was away from basketball.

183pts

20

Dwyane Wade

Averaged 34.7 points across the 2006 Finals after Miami lost the first two games.

183pts