Why Westbrook Deserves the FMVP Conversation

In the 2012 Finals, the Thunder faced the mighty Heat Big Three. That year Westbrook was only a sophomore, yet he played with beyond-his-years ferocity. Across the series he averaged 27 points, often out-scoring Durant on offense, holding his own against Wade and Chalmers, even becoming the Thunder's steadiest weapon in some games. In Game 5 he dropped 19 points and 8 assists, keeping it close to the end.

If not for the gap in experience and roster depth, that FMVP might not have been decided. The rest is history: the Heat took it 4-1, Durant got the FMVP. But every time we rewatch that series, someone seriously says: Westbrook deserved an FMVP. This isn't sentimentality; it's respect based on performance — he proved he could stay efficient on the biggest stage against the toughest defense.

History has no "what ifs," but the discussion itself is a tribute to that young man's year. The award lands with the prettier stat line, but in memory, that charging No. 0 deserved one too.

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For more Finals MVP breakdowns, see the Complete List of NBA Finals MVPs (1969–2026).