Who won Finals MVP in 1985?

The article covers the 1985 NBA Finals, the champion, the opponent, and the player named Finals MVP.

Which team won the NBA championship in 1985?

The article recaps the 1985 NBA Finals series, including the winning team, series score, and key moments.

What were the key stats for the 1985 Finals MVP?

The article breaks down the 1985 Finals MVP's scoring, assists, rebounds, and impact across the series.

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1985 Finals: At 38, Kareem's Sky Hook Crowns the Lakers

FMVP Club

NBA

11 views08/04/2026, 03:21 ET

In 1984-85 the Lakers beat the Celtics 4-2 in revenge. The 38-year-old Kareem Abdul-Jabbar averaged 25.7 and won Finals MVP, the oldest ever.

The 1985 NBA Finals was the Lakers' redemption against archrival Boston. A year after being embarrassed by the Celtics, Los Angeles returned and won 4-2. The brightest star was the 38-year-old Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Across the series Kareem poured in 25.7 points and 9 rebounds, shredding Boston's aging front line. His signature sky hook remained unanswerable — that high-arc one-hand toss no one could block. For steady, efficient dominance he was unanimously named Finals MVP.

The trophy made Kareem the oldest Finals MVP in NBA history (38), washing away the previous year's shame. From his first MVP in 1971 to this 1985 FMVP, his peak spanned decades — still a league legend.

The 1985 title was the moment Showtime truly crossed the Celtic mountain, and Kareem wrote the period of revenge with sky hooks.