Who won Finals MVP in 1971?

The article covers the 1971 NBA Finals, the champion, the opponent, and the player named Finals MVP.

Which team won the NBA championship in 1971?

The article recaps the 1971 NBA Finals series, including the winning team, series score, and key moments.

What were the key stats for the 1971 Finals MVP?

The article breaks down the 1971 Finals MVP's scoring, assists, rebounds, and impact across the series.

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1971: The Youngest MVP and Milwaukee's Only Crown

FMVP Club

NBA

14 views07/16/2026, 07:14 ET

In 1970-71, a 22-year-old Kareem won regular-season MVP (youngest ever) and led the Bucks to their first title plus Finals MVP.

In 1970-71, a 23-year-old (22 when awarded, by April birthday) Kareem was devastating: 31.7 points and 16.0 rebounds per game, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a league-best 66-16 and the regular-season MVP—a "youngest MVP" record that stood for decades.

In the playoffs the Bucks rolled; the Finals swept the Baltimore Bullets 4-0, with Kareem at 27.0 points and 18.5 rebounds a game, an easy Finals MVP. It remains the Bucks' only championship and Kareem's first ring.

That year he also did something far-reaching: formally became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. A new-era giant ascended under a new name.

1971 packed "individual honors + team title" at once, foreshadowing a decade where he would be the league's steadiest ruling core. No one yet knew his true peak would come after moving to Los Angeles.