As the NBA announced earlier during the postseason, for the first time this year, there will be some additional hardware handed out at the conclusion of each Conference Finals series.
Along with the new Bob Cousy Eastern Conference Finals championship trophy and Oscar Robertson Western Conference Finals championship trophy, the NBA will also reward a Conference Finals MVP in each conference for the first time in league history.
The Western Conference Finals MVP trophy is named after Lakers legend Magic Johnson, while the Eastern Conference Finals MVP trophy is named after Celtics legend Larry Bird.
MORE: New NBA Conference Finals trophies, explained
In a similar light to how MLB rewards ALCS and NLCS MVP every year, the NBA will reward the best player in each Conference Finals series with an MVP trophy.
With the Warriors putting the Mavericks on the brink of elimination, leading 3-0 going into Game 4, our staff has made their picks for the first-ever Magic Johnson Conference Finals MVP award.
You can also find the current betting odds for the Magic Johnson Conference Finals MVP award, courtesy of Fan Duel Sportsbook.
Who should win the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP?
Kyle Irving (@KyleIrv_): I know there's a buzz about Andrew Wiggins or Kevon Looney being the Western Conference Finals MVP to this point, but let's not overthink this. It's Stephen Curry.
Through the first three games, Curry is averaging 28.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists. He's shooting 48.3 percent from 3 and has gone for 30-plus in back-to-back games. He's been the best player in the series not named Luka Doncic and he deserves to be rewarded for leading his team back to the NBA Finals.
While Wiggins and Looney have both starred in their respective roles, Curry has been the guy for the Warriors. Let's not turn this into another running joke like what has become of Curry's Finals MVP-less trophy case.
Carlan Gay (@TheCarlanGay): Are you kidding me?! The answer is Andrew Christian Wiggins. Coming into the series, everyone said the key to it would be how the Warriors defended Luka Doncic. And no one has guarded Luka Magic more than Wiggins in the Conference Finals.
In three games, Wiggins has guarded Luka for 134.4 partial possession according to NBA Stats. Only Mikal Bridges, who played Doncic in a series that went seven, has spent more time on the Mavs maestro in these playoffs. And while Luka has still put up his usual eye-popping numbers, Wiggins has made him work harder than anyone.
And while Wiggins has been given the effort defensively to put the Warriors in position to sweep the Mavs, his offense hasn't taken a backseat.
Steph has been Steph no doubt, the numbers speak for themselves, but let's consider this: Wiggins is averaging 20.7 points in the series — good for second-best on the team — 7.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists.
He's also been efficient, shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from 3. His offensive has been as valuable to the Warriors as anyone else in this series, especially because he's forcing Luka to guard and expend energy on the defensive end.
One last thing to put Wiggins over the top, the Warriors are outscoring the Mavs at a rate of 28.9 points per 100 possessions in the series when he's on the floor. When Wiggins sits, the Warriors are getting outscored by a rate of 38.7 per 100 according to NBA Stats.
Let's face it, a lot of folks in the media (including some on this very staff) owe Wiggins an apology. They can start by giving him the WCF MVP.
Benyam Kidane (@BenyamKidane) Carlan nearly got me convinced in Wiggins' case for the award, but I'm going to agree with Kyle. Stephen Curry is the answer.
The Mavericks arrived in the Conference Finals on the back of their stellar defense and Curry has done nothing short of run them ragged through the first three games of the series, with his non-stop off-ball movement and dribble penetration.
Besides taking and making plenty of shots, Curry also hasn't been shy about getting stuck into the dirty work. The battle of the boards has told the story of the series, with Golden State outrebounding the Mavs 141-98. Despite being a 6-foot-3 guard, Curry (8.3 rebounds per game) is trailing only starting center Kevon Looney (9.7) on the boards.
That extra effort, combined with his elite offensive play is enough to convince me he's been the best player on the floor this series.
Ananth Pandian Come on now. There's no need to overthink this as it's an easy answer. Like my guys Benyam and Kyle already said, the inaugural award should go to the Baby-Faced Assassin aka Chef Curry aka Stephen Curry.
Don't be persuaded by Carlan's use of Wiggins' full name. Carlan is consumed by the disease of now, still living in the moment of Wiggins' sensational dunk on Luka Doncic. Meanwhile, Curry has been putting the Mavericks to sleep in the first three games of the series with his stellar shooting and improved effort and tenacity on the defensive end.
Even Magic Johnson, who this award is named after, has been amazed by Curry's play during the Western Conference Finals.
Here's Johnson after Game 1:
Seven guys ended the game in double figures. Wiggins, Thompson, Green, Looney & Porter Jr. were led by Steph Curry with 21 points & 12 rebounds.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 19, 2022
And after Game 2:
Steph Curry took over the game in the fourth quarter ending with 32 points and 8 rebounds! He had a lot of help from Looney scoring 21 points and 12 rebounds, Poole with 23 points, Wiggins 16, Thompson 15, and Porter Jr. with 11 points.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 21, 2022
And most recently, after Game 3:
Steph Curry is continuing his phenomenal play with 41 points and 11 assists in tonight’s game.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 23, 2022
Johnson is always enamored with a plethora of players. But his praise of Curry is spot on and succinctly describes why the Warriors superstar should win the Western Conference Finals MVP award.
Western Conference Finals MVP betting odds
Odds courtesy of Fan Duel Sportsbook.
| Player | Odds |
| Stephen Curry | -1500 |
| Luka Doncic | +2900 |
| Andrew Wiggins | +2900 |
| Draymond Green | +4600 |
| Jordan Poole | +4600 |
| Kevon Looney | +4600 |
Curry is the betting favorite – by far – to win the first-ever Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP.
Doncic and Wiggins are tied for the second-best odds, as Doncic is averaging 34.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists in the series, while Wiggins is doing a great job of making life difficult for the prolific offensive threat.
