Prepare to witness the showdown of the Finals MVPs!
When ranking Finals MVP performances, focus solely on each player's impact during the actual NBA Finals. Disregard their earlier playoff runs—those have no bearing here. Remember, all these performances led to NBA championships, so none were poor. However, some Finals MVP awards are simply built differently. Here’s how we rank the last Finals MVPs based on their NBA Finals performances.
LeBron James' 2016 NBA Finals performance is unparalleled in NBA history. Facing the Golden State Warriors, who had just set a record with a 73-9 season, James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first championship in franchise history. Despite being down 3-1 in the series, LeBron delivered back-to-back wins, culminating in a historic Game 7 performance. He posted 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, along with the greatest defensive play in Finals history—his iconic block on Andre Iguodala. This epic comeback affirmed LeBron's legacy as one of the greatest players ever and marked the NBA's most significant upset.
LeBron James courtside at a game!
Leading up to the 2021 playoffs, Giannis Antetokounmpo had achieved everything except an NBA championship. As a two-time MVP and Defensive Player of the Year for the Milwaukee Bucks, he was regarded as the best player in the world. However, his playoff runs often ended in disappointment. In 2021, despite a hyperextended knee, Giannis led the Bucks to their first title since 1971. Down 2-0 in the Finals against the Suns, he powered a four-game comeback, closing with an iconic 50-point performance. His efforts earned him a unanimous Finals MVP, cementing his place in NBA history.
The 2021-22 season was a vindication for Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. After four years without a title and being written off by fans and media, the Warriors proved doubters wrong. Facing the Boston Celtics in the 2022 Finals, the Warriors fell behind 2-1 despite Curry’s brilliance. Curry then delivered a masterful 43-point performance in Game 4 to even the series. He closed out the series with 34 points in Game 6, earning his first Finals MVP. This victory marked the Warriors’ fourth title since 2015 and completed Curry’s already illustrious career.
Kevin Durant shocked the NBA by joining the Golden State Warriors after the 2016 season, a move many deemed traitorous. The year before, Durant’s Thunder blew a 3-1 lead to the Warriors, who then lost in the Finals to the Cavaliers. Overnight, Durant became the NBA’s most hated player, but he responded with dominance. The Warriors cruised through the playoffs, meeting LeBron James and the Cavaliers in the Finals for the third straight year. Golden State won in five games, with Durant scoring 39 points on 62.5% shooting in Game 5 to secure his first NBA title and Finals MVP.
Nikola Jokic’s Finals MVP performance in 2023 secured the Denver Nuggets' first NBA championship with a 4-1 victory over the Miami Heat. Despite missing out on a third straight regular-season MVP, Jokic led the Nuggets to the ultimate prize. His Game 2 performance featured 41 points and 11 rebounds in their only series loss. In Game 3, Jokic recorded a historic 32-point, 21-rebound, 10-assist triple-double, further reasserting his legacy. Jokic’s dominance throughout the Finals silenced any doubters and firmly grounded his place as the greatest player in Nuggets history, leading them to control the 2022-23 season from start to finish.
Other honourable mentions on this list would include Andre Iguodala in 2015, Kawhi Leonard in 2019, Jaylen Brown in 2024, and Finally LeBron James second Finals MVP win in this decade with the Lakers!
