Here is every NBA Finals MVP in league history

Here is every NBA Finals MVP in league history originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

Nikola Jokic just added an NBA Finals MVP to pair with his two regular-season editions.

Jokic and the Denver Nuggets defeated Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat in a five-game series to cap off the 2022-23 NBA season on Monday night.

Even though the 28-year-old Serbian didn't win the awards in the same season, it's still a massive accomplishment that few players have ever achieved.

Here’s everything to know about the NBA Finals MVP award since its creation in the late 1960s.

Who won the first ever NBA Finals MVP?

The first ever NBA Finals MVP was awarded to Jerry West in 1968-69. West suited up for the Los Angeles Lakers, who lost the series 4-3 to the Boston Celtics. In that series, West averaged 37.9 points, 7.4 assists and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 49% from the field (96-for-196) and 83.9% from the foul line (73-for-87).

Has a losing player ever won NBA Finals MVP?

There has been only one losing player to win the NBA Finals MVP – Jerry West. It happened in the aforementioned series in which West and the Lakers lost 4-3 to the Celtics in the 1969 NBA Finals.

Who has won the most NBA Finals MVPs?

Michael Jordan has won the most NBA Finals MVPs with six, each coming with the Chicago Bulls. 

LeBron James has won the award four times – the only player to do so on three different teams – while Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan all won it three times. 

How many NBA players have won Finals MVP?

There have been 54 NBA players who have won Finals MVP since the 1968-69 campaign. Here’s a list of each winner in reverse chronological order:

• 2022-23: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
• 2021-22: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
• 2020-21: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
• 2019-20: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
• 2018-19: Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors
• 2017-18: Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors
• 2016-17: Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors
• 2015-16: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
• 2014-15: Andre Iguodala, Golden State Warriors
• 2013-14: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
• 2012-13: LeBron James, Miami Heat
• 2011-12: LeBron James, Miami Heat
• 2010-11: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
• 2009-10: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
• 2008-09: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
• 2007-08: Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
• 2006-07: Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
• 2005-06: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
• 2004-05: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
• 2003-04: Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons
• 2002-03: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
• 2001-02: Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
• 2000-01: Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
• 1999-00: Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
• 1998-99: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
• 1997-98: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
• 1996-97: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
• 1995-96: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
• 1994-95: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
• 1993-94: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
• 1992-93: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
• 1991-92: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
• 1990-91: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
• 1989-90: Isiah Thomas, Detroit Pistons
• 1988-89: Joe Dumars, Detroit Pistons
• 1987-88: James Worthy, Los Angeles Lakers
• 1986-87: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers
• 1985-86: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics
• 1984-85: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles Lakers
• 1983-84: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics
• 1982-83: Moses Malone, Philadelphia 76ers
• 1981-82: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers
• 1980-81: Cedric Maxwell, Boston Celtics
• 1979-80: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers
• 1978-79: Dennis Johnson, Seattle SuperSonics
• 1977-78: Wes Unseld, Washington Bullets
• 1976-77: Bill Walton, Portland Trail Blazers
• 1975-76: Jo Jo White, Boston Celtics
• 1974-75: Rick Barry, Golden State Warriors
• 1973-74: John Havlicek, Boston Celtics
• 1972-73: Willis Reed, New York Knicks
• 1971-72: Wilt Chamberlain, Los Angeles Lakers
• 1970-71: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee Bucks
• 1969-70: Willis Reed, New York Knicks
• 1968-69: Jerry West, Los Angeles Lakers

Has an NBA player won regular-season MVP and Finals MVP in the same season?

There have been 15 instances where the winner of the regular-season NBA MVP also won the Finals edition. The most recent came in 2012 and 2013 when LeBron James achieved the feat in consecutive seasons, though Michael Jordan has done it the most times (four).

Here’s a chronological look starting from 1970, when Willis Reed became the first player to do so with the New York Knicks:

1970: Willis Reed

1971: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1983: Moses Malone

1984: Larry Bird 

1986: Larry Bird

1987: Magic Johnson

1991: Michael Jordan

1992: Michael Jordan

1994: Hakeem Olajuwon

1996: Michael Jordan 

1998: Michael Jordan

2000: Shaquille O'Neal

2003: Tim Duncan

2012: LeBron James 

2013: LeBron James