In 2019-20, LeBron James led the Lakers past Miami 4-2 inside the Orlando "bubble," capturing his 4th championship and 4th Finals MVP, tying several legends in rings.
Traded to Toronto in 2018-19, Kawhi Leonard beat the injury-hit Warriors 4-2 for the franchise’s first title and was named Finals MVP.
After the 2019 Finals injury and two missed playoffs, Curry held on through doubt. In 2022 he led a comeback, completing his redemption with a title and first FMVP.
Kawhi popularized "load management" in 2019, resting in the regular season to protect his knee. After winning he left for the Clippers, another chapter in the player-empowerment era.
In 2019 Irving and Durant joined Brooklyn, forming the fearsome "Nets Big Two" — a road far more winding than imagined.
Sent to rebuilding Oklahoma City in 2019, Paul led a young roster to the playoffs and finished 5th in MVP voting—a personal vindication.
From 2008 to 2019, Westbrook spent 11 seasons with the Thunder — in an era of superteam hopping, the stubbornest footnote of "one man, one city".
Giannis won the regular-season MVP in 2019 and 2020 — in 2019-20 he averaged 29.5 PPG and 13.6 RPG, the two-way monster at his peak.
Harden won the scoring title in 2018, 2019 and 2020 — in 2018-19 he averaged 36.1 PPG and scored 2,346 points, a historic offensive explosion.
The 2019 crown was earned by obsession and work, not luck—the never-quit mindset voters honored with the MVP.
Kawhi’s 2019 game—a two-way wing who carried a first-time champion—was a style no one could copy.
The 2019 title was Kawhi’s hinge—from Spurs role player to the man who delivered a nation its first ring.