NBA Finals: Who has been named Bill Russell Finals MVP? A complete list of the previous winners

NBA.com Staff

NBA Finals: Who has been named Bill Russell Finals MVP? A complete list of the previous winners image

The NBA Finals Most Valuable Player MVP Award is an annual award given to the best player in the NBA Finals series, based on votes cast by a defined number of media members.

In 2009, then NBA commissioner David Stern renamed the award to "Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award", in honour of 11-time Champion and Boston Celtics' Hall of Famer Bill Russell.

The 2021 recipient of the award was Giannis Antetokounmpo for averaging 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game and leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 4-2 series victory over the Phoenix Suns. 

He is only the fifth international to win the award and the first since Dirk Nowitzki in 2011 to win the award. 

NBA Finals MVP winners history
Year Player Team
2021 Giannis Antetokounmpo Milwaukee Bucks
2020 LeBron James Los Angeles Lakers
2019 Kawhi Leonard Toronto Raptors
2018 Kevin Durant Golden State Warriors
2017 Kevin Durant 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 Chicago Bulls
1997 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls
1996 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls
1995 Hakeem Olajuwon Houston Rockets
1994 Hakeem Olajuwon Houston Rockets
1993 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls
1992 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls
1991 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls
1990 Isiah 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 Jo Jo White Boston Celtics
1975 Rick Barry Golden State Warriors
1974 John Havlicek Boston Celtics
1973 Willis Reed New York Knicks
1972 Wilt Chamberlain Los Angeles Lakers
1971 Lew Alcindor Milwaukee Bucks
1970 Willis Reed New York Knicks
1969 Jerry West Los Angeles Lakers

The views on this page do not necessarily represent the views of the NBA or its clubs.

NBA.com Staff

NBA.com Staff Photo