Stephen Curry wins his first NBA Finals MVP: Complete list of all Most Valuable Players by year

As hard as it gets for a team to win an NBA Championship, the Finals MVP is awarded to a player with outstanding performance throughout the NBA Finals. That's why many NBA legends have won the title but didn't have won this individual award, despite being the champion.

Since the creation of this award, it has been given out 53 times to 31 different players. Since the 2009 NBA Finals, this award changed its name to Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP award. This in honor of the eleven-time NBA Champion who couldn't won this award when he was playing because it didn't exist.

In addition, this award is decided by a panel of eleven media members, who vote after the end of the NBA Finals series. It is a simple voting sequence where the player with most votes wins the award. The award was a black with gold trophy similar to the Larry O'Brien trophy. In 2005 it changed to be a Bill Russell tribute.

NBA Finals MVP: Complete list of all Most Valuable Players by year

Among the players who have won the Finals MVP award, only Jerry West was named the Finals MVP as a player of the losing team of the NBA Finals. Coincidentally it was the first time this award was given out to an NBA player. 

Whereas Michael Jordan is the player with most Finals MVP awards with six. The second most is LeBron James who has been named four times Finals MVP with 3 different teams. Finally, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal and Tim Duncan have won it three times. Also, only 3 non-American players have won this award. Check the complete list of all Finals MVP. 

n his 6th NBA Finals series, Stephen Curry finally was awarded with the Finals MVP after a game series win to the Boston Celtics by the Golden State Warriors. In addition Curry clinched his 4th NBA Championship. He averaged 31 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in the 2022 NBA Finals. He is the 2nd oldest player to receive this award.