When did the NBA start awarding Finals MVP?

The NBA Finals MVP award began in 1969, with Jerry West of the Los Angeles Lakers becoming the first winner.

How is the NBA Finals MVP decided?

The Finals MVP is voted by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters after the series, based on overall impact and performance.

Has a player from the losing team ever won Finals MVP?

Yes, Jerry West in 1969 is the only player to win Finals MVP while on the losing team.

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King of New York: From Doubt to the Throne at Madison Square Garden

FMVP Club

NBA

9 views07/21/2026, 08:39 ET

From skepticism at arrival to a title 53 years in the making, Brunson is hailed by Knicks fans as "King of New York" — a new totem of the Garden.

In New York, nothing wins a city's love like leading it to a championship.

When Brunson joined the Knicks in 2022, the outside world was unconvinced: a second-rounder from Dallas, could he carry New York's ambition? But in just four years, with steadiness, toughness and leadership, he dragged the Knicks from playoff fringe to champions. Knicks fans gave him a title of their own — "King of New York."

It is not an official honor, but the city's spontaneous respect. At Madison Square Garden, his No. 11 jersey is everywhere; on the streets, kids mimic his pull-up. A 1.88m guard became the new totem of basketball's cathedral.

From doubt to crown, Brunson's path is exactly the story New York loves: written off, yet determined to prove otherwise.