
Who votes for NBA Finals MVP? Breakdown of the voting process and revision of winners by year
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan – the NBA Finals MVP list is full of legendary names. Of course, there are also a few unlikely Endgame heroes to win the award, including Cedric Maxwell and Andre Iguodala.
As the 2022 NBA Finals draws to a close, basketball fans may be wondering how the league determines which player wins the Finals MVP trophy. This is actually quite a simple process, but it can also be controversial.
MORE: Ranking Curry’s Best NBA Finals Performances
Who votes for NBA Finals MVP?
The NBA Finals MVP Award has been presented annually since the 1969 NBA Finals. The winner of the award is selected by a jury of 11 media representatives. They cast their votes immediately after the end of the last game of the series, and the player with the most votes is rewarded.
An example of NBA Finals MVP voting results
Back in 2015, Iguodala won the Finals MVP award after the Warriors defeated LeBron James and the Cavaliers, a result that is still controversial among fans and members of the media.
Some critics argued that Stephen Curry deserved this award, but he did not receive a single vote.
Here’s a breakdown of the results:
- Hubie Brown (ESPN) – Iguodala
- Sam Amick (then of USA Today, now of The Athletic) – Iguodala
- Ken Berger (then of CBSSports.com) – Iguodala
- Jason Lloyd (then with Akron Beacon Journal, now with The Athletic) – Iguodala
- Mark Spears (then with Yahoo Sports, now with Andscape ESPN) – Iguodala
- Mark Stein (then on ESPN.com, now on Substack) – Iguodala
- Rusty Simmons (then San Francisco Chronicle) – Iguodala
- Jeff Van Gundy (ESPN) – James
- Zach Lowe (then from Grantland, now with ESPN) – James
- Steve Ashburner (NBA.com) – James
- Howard Beck (then at Bleacher Report, now at Sports Illustrated) – James
- Totals: Iguodala (7), James (4)
Complete list of NBA Finals MVP award winners
Jordan holds the record for most Finals MVP awards in league history with six. James is next in line behind Jordan with four Finals MVP trophies. He is the only player to win the award with three different franchises (Cavaliers, Heat, and Lakers).
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is the latest recipient of the award. He led Milwaukee to its first championship in 50 years, averaging 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.2 steals per game against Phoenix in the 2021 NBA Finals.
Year | Player | Team |
2021 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks |
2020 | LeBron James | Los Angeles Lakers |
2019 | Kawhi Leonard | Toronto Raptors |
2018 | Kevin Duran | Golden State Warriors |
2017 | Kevin Duran | Golden State Warriors |
2016 | LeBron James | Cleveland Cavaliers |
2015 | Andre Iguodala | Golden State Warriors |
2014 | Kawhi Leonard | San Antonio Spurs |
2013 | LeBron James | Miami Heat |
2012 | LeBron James | Miami Heat |
2011 | Dirk Nowitzki | Dallas Mavericks |
2010 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers |
2009 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers |
2008 | Paul Pierce | Boston Celtics |
2007 | Tony Parker | San Antonio Spurs |
2006 | Dwyane Wade | Miami Heat |
2005 | Tim Duncan | San Antonio Spurs |
2004 | Chauncey Billups | Detroit Pistons |
2003 | Tim Duncan | San Antonio Spurs |
2002 | Shaquille O’Neal | Los Angeles Lakers |
2001 | Shaquille O’Neal | Los Angeles Lakers |
2000 | Shaquille O’Neal | Los Angeles Lakers |
1999 | Tim Duncan | San Antonio Spurs |
1998 | Michael Jordan | Bulls of Chicago |
1997 | Michael Jordan | Bulls of Chicago |
1996 | Michael Jordan | Bulls of Chicago |
1995 | Hakim Olajuwon | Houston Rockets |
1994 | Hakim Olajuwon | Houston Rockets |
1993 | Michael Jordan | Bulls of Chicago |
1992 | Michael Jordan | Bulls of Chicago |
1991 | Michael Jordan | Bulls of Chicago |
1990 | Isaiah Thomas | Detroit Pistons |
1989 | Joe Dumars | Detroit Pistons |
1988 | James Worthy | Los Angeles Lakers |
1987 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers |
1986 | Larry Bird | Boston Celtics |
1985 | Kareem Abdul Jabbar | Los Angeles Lakers |
1984 | Larry Bird | Boston Celtics |
1983 | Moses Malone | Philadelphia 76ers |
1982 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers |
1981 | Cedric Maxwell | Boston Celtics |
1980 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers |
1979 | Dennis Johnson | Seattle SuperSonics |
1978 | Wes Unseld | Washington Bullets |
1977 | Bill Walton | Portland Trail Blazers |
1976 | Joe Joe White | Boston Celtics |
1975 | Rick Barry | Golden State Warriors |
1974 | John Havlicek | Boston Celtics |
1973 | Willis Reid | New York Knicks |
1972 | Wilt Chamberlain | Los Angeles Lakers |
1971 | Kareem Abdul Jabbar | Milwaukee Bucks |
1970 | Willis Reid | New York Knicks |
1969 | Jerry West | Los Angeles Lakers |