Complete List of NBA Finals MVPs (1969–2026)

The NBA Finals MVP (Finals Most Valuable Player) is the highest individual honor awarded for the most valuable performer of the NBA Finals series. This page compiles the complete list of every NBA Finals MVP from 1969 to 2026 and spotlights the defining runs of the game's most dominant winners.

What Is the FMVP?

FMVP stands for Finals Most Valuable Player. It is voted by a panel of media members after the Finals and recognizes the player who contributed most to his team's championship run. The award was established in 1969, and its first recipient was Jerry West of the Los Angeles Lakers — remarkably, the only Finals MVP in NBA history from a losing team (the Lakers fell to Boston 3-4 in 1969, yet West averaged 37.9 points per game and still won).

Unlike the regular-season MVP, the FMVP considers only the Finals. That narrower lens produces its own legends: players who never won a regular-season MVP but absolutely owned June.

Full List (1969–2026)

Updated through 2026: 2025 FMVP was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder; 2026 went to Jalen Brunson, who led the New York Knicks to their third title — and first in 53 years.

Key Figures

Michael Jordan: 6 Finals, 6 FMVPs

Jordan swept all six Finals MVPs across his two three-peats (1991–1993, 1996–1998), the most in history. The 1997 "Flu Game" (38 points while sick) and the 1998 final flick over Russell are textbook FMVP moments.

LeBron James: The Only Winner on Three Teams

James won Finals MVP with Miami (2012, 2013), Cleveland (2016) and the Lakers (2020) — the only player ever to do it with three franchises. His 2016 run, rallying Cleveland from a 1-3 deficit against the 73-win Warriors, remains the gold standard for a "carry" performance.

Magic Johnson: Rookie Royalty

In Game 6 of the 1980 Finals, a 20-year-old Magic filled in at center for the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and dropped 42 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists — becoming the youngest Finals MVP ever and launching the Showtime Lakers.

Stephen Curry: Completing the Set in 2022

Curry won three rings (2015, 2017, 2018) before finally taking Finals MVP in 2022, averaging 31.2 points as Golden State beat Boston 4-2. After twice losing the vote to teammates, the award meant more for the wait.

Larry Bird: The Celtics Soul

Bird won Finals MVP in 1984 and 1986 and anchored the 1980s Celtics-Lakers rivalry that rescued the league's popularity. His duels with Magic are essential NBA history.

Jalen Brunson: The 2026 New King

In the 2026 Finals, Brunson led the Knicks past the Spurs 4-1, averaging 32.6 points and dropping 45 in Game 5 to claim MVP. New York's third title — and first in 53 years — turned a steady mid-range scorer into a New York legend.

Common Misconceptions (FAQ)

Is the FMVP always the top scorer? No. In 2015 Andre Iguodala averaged just 16.3 points but won by neutralizing LeBron and leading in plus-minus, beating higher-scoring teammates. The award rewards championship impact, not raw scoring.

Which is harder: MVP or FMVP? Different lenses. MVP spans 82 regular-season games; FMVP covers at most seven Finals games. Some MVPs (e.g., Karl Malone, Stockton) never won a Finals MVP, while others collected multiple.

Can you win FMVP on a losing team? Yes — once. Jerry West in 1969 is the only case. No losing-side player has won since.

Can two players share an FMVP? Never. The award has always gone to a single recipient, even in the closest votes.

Wrap-Up

The Finals MVP trophy tells the story of basketball's "most valuable moments." From Jordan's six crowns to Brunson's 2026 New York fairy tale, this list is more than data — it's a memory book for generations of fans.

Explore more MVP breakdowns on the site by searching "FMVP", or read our companion pieces on the 2026 Knicks championship, short-guard FMVPs, and Shaquille O'Neal's three-peat.

Related Reading

• Complete List of NBA Finals MVPs (1969–2026)
• 2026 Coronation: Brunson Wins Unanimous Finals MVP
• A Short Guard's FMVP: The 4th Player ≤188m in NBA History
• The End of an Era: Westbrook Officially Retires
• 2017 MVP: The Man Who Averaged a Triple-Double