A Decade of Finals MVPs (2017–2026): From the Splash of Death to New York's Rebirth
A Decade of Finals MVPs (2017–2026): From the Splash of Death to New York's Rebirth
If the championship is a city's carnival, the Finals MVP is the brightest beam in it — reserved for the man who truly carried the weight of winning on the biggest stage. Across 2017 to 2026, the league lived through the afterglow of a Warriors dynasty, a scramble of contenders, and finally the full takeover of a new generation. Let's break down these ten FMVPs and see exactly what put them on top.
2017–2018: Durant, Two Years of the Reaper
Joining Golden State in the summer of 2016 was the most debated turn in Durant's career — and the start of his championship map. In 2017 the Warriors beat Cleveland 4-1 in the Finals; Durant averaged 35.2 points on over 50% shooting, and his series-clinching three in Game 3 became the footnote to the "Splash of Death." In 2018 they swept 4-0 to repeat, with steady, efficient scoring earning him back-to-back honors. Two straight FMVPs planted him firmly among the all-time playoff killers. The price was the "taking the easy road" backlash, but history records only results: two rings, two FMVPs, written into the books.
2019: Leonard, the Only King of the North
Traded to Toronto, Leonard stayed just one year — and gave the Raptors their first title ever. Battling through injuries, burying the 76ers with a Game 7 buzzer-beater in the East finals, then defeating Golden State 4-2, he was the quiet man who decided games on both ends. This is the rarest kind of FMVP coronation — a one-season rental that became a city's lifelong memory.
2020: LeBron, the Fourth Crown in the Bubble
The Orlando restart was the strangest season in NBA history. At 35, LeBron pushed point-forward play to its limit, guiding Davis all the way to a 4-2 Finals win over Miami for his fourth ring and fourth FMVP. This trophy is about longevity: seventeen years on, he was still the man who set the ceiling.
2021: Giannis, Milwaukee's Greek Myth
From a slender rookie to MVP to FMVP, Giannis spent eight years forging raw tools into skill. In Game 6 of the Finals he dropped 50 points — a masterclass of dominance with zero reliance on foul baiting — leading the Bucks to their first title in 50 years, 4-2. It's the blueprint of the underdog triumph: you thought he only had athleticism; the championship proved he had the will too.
2022: Curry, the Late Coronation
Three rings in three years, yet Curry kept missing the FMVP. In 2022 the Warriors beat Boston 4-2; he averaged 31.2 points and ripped up the "system player" label with a run of clutch threes, finally lifting the trophy he'd chased. Golden State's eighth banner was also the closing of his personal loop.
2023: Jokić, Denver's Beautiful Game
Jokić turned the center spot into a point-guard role. In 2023 the Nuggets disposed of Miami 4-1; he posted triple-double-level numbers, dissecting every double team with a pass, and delivered the franchise's first title. This is basketball IQ beating athleticism — slow, but always one step ahead.
2024: Brown, Boston's 18th Banner
The Celtics returned, beating Dallas 4-1 in 2024. Jaylen Brown locked down Dončić on both ends and took the FMVP, raising the 18th championship banner over Boston. Understated, complete, underestimated — this trophy belonged to the man always compared with Tatum yet first to the summit.
2025: SGA, Oklahoma City's Youth Storm
With minimalist pace and mid-range aesthetics, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led a young Thunder team to their first title since relocating. In 2025 they beat Indiana 4-2, and his two-way game earned the FMVP. It was the signal flare of the new generation taking over: elegance can win, too.
2026: Brunson, New York's 53-Year Wait
From a role player in Dallas to the leader of Madison Square Garden, Brunson led the Knicks to a 4-2 title in 2026 — their first in 53 years — and won the FMVP unanimously. It's the fairy tale of the grassroots leader: not the tallest, he fills every gap with feel and heart.
A Decade in a Blink, an Era Turning
From Durant's "mercenary dynasty" to Brunson's "underdog rise," these ten FMVPs thread together a history of power shifting hands: superteam stacking → single-core carries → the rise of international stars → the arrival of everyman heroes. Behind every name is a full answer sheet about talent, choice, and will.
The full series — Finals MVPs of the last decade:
- Two-Time Finals MVP: The Warriors' 2017-2018 Crowning
- 2018 Sweep Crown: Durant's Back-to-Back FMVP
- 2019 North's First: Kawhi Leads Raptors to Top
- 2020 Bubble Crown: LeBron's 4th Title, 4th FMVP
- 2021 Finals MVP: Giannis Crowns Milwaukee
- 2022 Golden State's 8th: Curry Finally Takes FMVP
- 2023 Finals MVP: Jokić Crowns the Nuggets
- 2024 Celtics' 18th Banner: Brown Crowned FMVP
- 2025 Thunder's Roar: SGA Leads OKC to First Title
- 2026 Coronation: Brunson Wins Unanimous Finals MVP as Knicks Take Title After 53 Years
Source: NBA.com. This is original commentary based on public data, not an official NBA product.
