Ranking Every NBA Finals MVP

With the 2013 NBA Finals underway, we’ve already seen several of the series’ stars assert themselves as difference-makers in this evenly contested matchup. In Game 1 alone, we saw former Finals MVPs Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade all show why each has won the award in the last decade.

Beginning with Jerry West in 1969, the Finals MVP award has almost always gone to someone whose name is synonymous with success. Of the 28 different players to win the award, only three (Jo Jo White, Cedric Maxwell, and possibly Chauncey Billups) are not or will not be elected to the Hall of Fame. It is a mark of both individual and team greatness, since only once in history has the award gone to someone from the losing team.

However, like with the regular season MVP award, not all Finals MVP campaigns are created equal. Some players put up better numbers than others and their contributions have meant more to their teams. While we can agree that all these efforts were great and deserving of the honors they received, we Rank Every NBA Finals MVP.

Team: Washington Bullets
Opponent: Seattle Supersonics
Result: Bullets over Supersonics, 4-3
Finals stats: 9.0 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 3.9 APG

In the 1978 Finals, the Bullets had six players average double-digit points per game. Wes Unseld was not one of them. They had two players average four or more assists. Wes Unseld was not one of those, either. What he did do was pull down 11.7 boards per game and anchored the Bullets' interior defense, providing an intimidating presence that would unselfishly deliver the ball to higher-scoring teammates Bob Dandridge and Elvin Hayes. For his tenacity and selflessness, Unseld was voted MVP despite averaging 7.2 points per game during the season—less than anyone else who has ever won the award.

Team: New York Knicks
Opponent: Los Angeles Lakers
Result: Knicks over Lakers, 4-1
Finals stats: 16.4 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.6 APG

While certainly lesser known than his memorable 1970 campaign, Willis Reed's Finals MVP-winning performance in 1973 was still an impressive display of basketball. The Knicks' icon was a key cog in what was likely the best Knicks team of all-time, doing the dirty work down in the paint for a team that had their top five players all average within three points of each other. Reed provided clutch scoring for his team throughout the series, particularly in Games 3, 4, and 5 where he chipped in with 22, 21, and 18 points, respectively. This would prove to be Willis' last stand, as he played in just 19 games the following season due to recurring knee problems before retiring.

Team: Boston Celtics
Opponent: Houston Rockets
Result: Celtics over Rockets, 4-2
Finals stats: 17.7 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.0 BPG

The man affectionately referred to as "Cornbread" started out the Finals very slowly, scoring just 16 points combined in Games 1 and 2. However, as Larry Bird fell into a shooting slump, Maxwell came alive as he led the Celtics in scoring in Games 3, 4, and 5, including a 28 point, 15 rebound outburst that gave the Celtics a 3-2 series lead. He was absolutely tenacious on the glass all series, as the Celtics' forward collected 5.7 offensive rebounds per game despite the tremendous interior presence of Moses Malone, more than doubling the total of his next-highest teammate.

Team: Detroit Pistons
Opponent: Los Angeles Lakers
Result: Pistons over Lakers, 4-1
Finals stats: 21.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 5.2 APG, 1.2 SPG

Nobody really thought the Pistons were going to be able to stop Kobe, Shaq, and the rest of the Lakers in the 2004 Finals. Sure, the Lakers' foundation had started to show some cracks, but it was still a team that had won three titles and still had all its key pieces in place. The Pistons were not intimidated, though, and Billups was a huge reason why.

"Mr. Big Shot" absolutely worked Gary Payton and Derek Fisher over during the first four games, getting open time and again on pick-and-roll plays to the degree that the Lakers stuck Kobe Bryant on him in Game 5. Unfortunately for the Lakers, it didn't work; the Pistons still won the title that night anyway, with Billups' tremendous confidence setting the tone for the rest of his team.

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Opponent: Philadelphia 76ers
Result: Lakers over 76ers, 4-2
Finals stats: 16.2 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 8.0 APG, 2.5 SPG

Already a seasoned veteran of the Finals in just his third year in the league, Magic looked right at home against Philadelphia. His contributions didn't necessarily pop off the stat page, but as the maestro of the Lakers' offense Magic showed a level of composure belying his lack of experience. He led all players in minutes, rebounds, and steals, averaging nearly a triple-double as the Lakers relied upon his consistency for each of the series' six games. The blossoming star finished off his outstanding Finals with a 13 point, 13 rebound, 13 assist triple-double in the clinching Game 6 at the Forum, an early sign that throughout his career we'd be seeing Magic's best in the biggest games.

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Opponent: Detroit Pistons
Result: Lakers over Pistons, 4-3
Finals stats: 22.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 4.4 APG

While he had other clutch performances, "Big Game James" truly made his debut to the world during the 1988 Finals as Worthy made huge plays in Game 7 to cement his legend. He led his team in scoring in four of the seven games, three of them Laker wins. His Game 7 was truly a performance for the ages; with his team needing a boost after narrowly avoiding losing Game 6, Worthy posted 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists for the only triple-double of his Hall of Fame career.

Team: Boston Celtics
Opponent: Phoenix Suns
Result: Celtics over Suns, 4-2
Finals stats: 21.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.5 SPG

The 1976 Finals will undoubtedly always be remembered for the triple overtime Game 5, but it was certainly a highly competitive series as a whole. White was at the center of all the action for the Celtics, providing his ever-reliable scoring punch from the point guard spot while also funneling his man into the middle of the Celtics intimidating frontcourt, which that season placed all three starters on the All-Defensive First Team. His 33 points led the way for the Celtics in Game 5, and for the series he led the Celtics in points and assists per game. He also connected on 36 of his 41 free throw attempts, providing a calming influence at the charity stripe and didn't miss a foul shot until Game 4.

Team: San Antonio Spurs
Opponent: Cleveland Cavaliers
Result: Spurs over Cavaliers, 4-0
Finals stats: 24.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.3 APG

The only Finals win of Tim Duncan's career in which he wasn't MVP, this drubbing of the over-matched Cavaliers was orchestrated almost entirely by Parker. The French point guard provided the Spurs' primary scoring punch, leading the team in scoring in three of the four games and helping them take the title in truly dominant fashion. His Game 4 performance was perhaps his finest of the series, as Parker went 10-14 from the field and even grabbed seven rebounds as the Spurs completed their sweep of LeBron James and his otherwise lackluster supporting cast.

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Opponent: Boston Celtics
Result: Lakers over Celtics, 4-3
Finals stats: 28.6 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, 2.1 SPG

Despite failing to shoot over 50 percent in any of the series' seven games (including a 6 for 24 performance in Game 7), Kobe took home MVP honors on the strength of his high-volume scoring and penchant for making huge shots in key moments during this hotly-contested rematch of the 2008 Finals.

One area Kobe did not struggle in was at the free throw line, as the Lakers' star shot a combined 53 for 60 from the charity stripe and missed more than one free throw in a game only once. His dominance on the boards (15 rebounds) in Game 7 against an undermanned Celtics squad missing center Kendrick Perkins was the epitome of clutch, as the Lakers were able to generate the numerous extra chances that ultimately provided them with the winning margin.

Team: Boston Celtics
Opponent: Los Angeles Lakers
Result: Celtics over Lakers, 4-2
Finals stats: 21.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.2 SPG

The Celtics' return to the basketball mountaintop was fueled by the consistency of their captain, who played an outstanding overall series as Boston took the title in six games. With so many stars on the roster, Pierce needed to be efficient with his shooting if they wanted to win; he certainly was that, shooting an even 50 percent from the floor in the Celtics' four wins compared with 33 percent in their two losses.

His Game 1 performance after injuring his knee and overdramatically being taken to the locker room in a wheelchair set the tone for the series, as upon returning to the floor Pierce drilled two three-pointers and inspired the Celtics to victory.

Team: Dallas Mavericks
Opponent: Miami Heat
Result: Mavericks over Heat, 4-2
Finals stats: 26.0 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 2.0 APG

Nowitzki may go down as one of the "rangiest" forwards ever to play the game, a true "stretch four" who has helped redefine the position due to his incredible shooting ability from the outside. Playing in his second Finals against the Heat, though, Dirk needed to add the last piece missing from his Hall of Fame resume: a title.

The big German was superb in this tightly-contested series, making a game-winning shot in Game 2 and providing clutch shooting throughout the series. After he struggled to a 1-12 shooting performance in the first half of Game 6, Dirk rallied and hit a back-breaking jumper with 2:27 to go in the fourth quarter to ice the game and championship for the Mavericks.

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Opponent: Boston Celtics
Result: Lakers over Celtics, 4-2
Finals stats: 25.7 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 5.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.5 BPG

Kareem's second Finals MVP award came an amazing 14 years after his first one, and his performance was equally as impressive. The Lakers' center was dominant against the Celtics, averaging 28.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game from Games 2 through 6 (Game 1, known as the "Memorial Day Massacre," was a complete lost cause in which Kareem played just 22 minutes).

He then came back with a strong Game 2 (30 points, 17 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks) that helped the Lakers pull even at 1-1 and effectively seize momentum as they headed back to Los Angeles. Kareem was then the difference in the deciding Game 6, scoring 29 points in the hostile Boston Garden as the Lakers captured their first championship against the Celtics after failing to beat them in the franchises' eight previous Finals matchups.

Team: San Antonio Spurs
Opponent: Detroit Pistons
Result: Spurs over Pistons, 4-3
Finals stats: 20.6 PPG, 14.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, 2.1 BPG

Duncan's MVP-winning 2005 Finals was a microcosm of his entire career: efficient, unflashy, and stunningly consistent. The Spurs' power forward had two sub-standard games (for him) in his team's two biggest losses, but outside of those aberrations he was his typical steady self, providing the Spurs with reliable interior offense and defense as he controlled the paint against the Pistons' Ben and Rasheed Wallace. With Game 7 hanging in the balance, Duncan scored 10 of his team's 18 points in the third quarter then made several huge plays down the stretch in the fourth to deliver San Antonio their third title and give himself his third Finals MVP award.

Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Opponent: Philadelphia 76ers
Result: Trail Blazers over 76ers, 4-2
Finals stats: 18.5 PPG, 19.0 RPG, 5.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, 3.7 BPG

1977 was a year of firsts for Portland: their first winning season, their first playoff appearance, and (obviously) their first Finals appearance. Nobody would have begrudged them a bad showing. Superstar center Bill Walton simply wouldn't allow that to happen, though, who rallied his team after they were literally pummeled in Game 2 to win the next four games and the title.

The bearded redhead was in the middle of all the action, putting up 20-18-9 in Game 3, grabbing 24 rebounds in Game 4, and narrowly missing out on a quadruple-double with 20 points, 23 rebounds, seven assists, and eight blocks in Game 6. Walton's MVP-winning effort prompted his coach Dr. Jack Ramsay to say that he had "never coached a better player" than Walton.

Team: Detroit Pistons
Opponent: Portland Trail Blazers
Result: Pistons over Trail Blazers, 4-1
Finals stats: 27.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 7.0 APG, 1.6 SPG

The Pistons run as top team in the NBA may have been brief, but it certainly was impressive. Isiah Thomas had already developed a reputation as a clutch performer thanks to his famous "sprained ankle game" in the 1988 Finals, and his effort in 1990 secured his legacy as one of the all-time greats.

He had several huge outbursts in the series to secure his MVP bid: in Game 1, he rallied the Pistons from a 10-point deficit with seven minutes to go; in Game 4, he scored 22 points in the third quarter to give the Pistons a huge lead, then nailed three free throws with 8.4 seconds to go to provide the winning points. As he said after they won the title, "you can say what you want about me, but you can't say I'm not a winner."

Team: Seattle Supersonics
Opponent: Washington Bullets
Result: Supersonics over Bullets, 4-1
Finals stats: 22.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.8 SPG, 2.2 BPG

While Johnson didn't put up the most spectacular numbers you'll ever see, it was his all-around impact on the game that earned him 1979's Finals MVP award. The 6'4" guard provided the Supersonics with a reliable source of offense, including a 32-point outburst in Game 4's overtime victory that made Seattle's victory a mere formality. His incredible defense was a huge source of inspiration to his teammates as well, as he was routinely able to get in passing lanes and wreak havoc on Washington's offensive scheme. Johnson's effort helped the Sonics avenge their defeat at the hands of the Bullets just a year earlier and win the only title to date in franchise history.

Team: Chicago Bulls
Opponent: Seattle Supersonics
Result: Bulls over Supersonics, 4-2
Finals stats: 27.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.7 SPG

Jordan's first title since returning from baseball was certainly harder-fought than initially anticipated; after running out to a 3-0 lead, the Supersonics battled back and made a series of it before falling to the Bulls in a closely-contested Game 6.

In terms of overall numbers, Jordan put up easily the least gaudy stats of his six MVPs. He had just one 30-plus point game, and for the series shot just over 41 percent from the field. Nevertheless, the Bulls' legend was the series most dominant force, winning the title on an emotional Father's Day and giving Jordan the distinction of becoming just the second player in history to win the regular season, All-Star Game, and Finals MVP awards all in the same season (Willis Reed was the other in 1970, Jordan did it again in 1998, and Shaq joined the club in 2000).

Team: Boston Celtics
Opponent: Milwaukee Bucks
Result: Celtics over Bucks, 4-3
Finals stats: 26.4 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.9 SPG

Hondo helped deliver the first title of the post-Bill Russell area for the Celtics, as the series MVP did a little bit of everything to help his team overcome Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson, and the Bucks in a back-and-forth seven game affair. Havlicek's heroics in the double overtime Game 6 were largely overshadowed by Kareem's last-second skyhook to send the series to Game 7. But in the final contest, he did manage to contribute 16 points and nine rebounds as the Celtics won the title on the road in Milwaukee. He was money from the free throw line throughout the series, sinking 41 of his 47 attempts.

Team: Boston Celtics
Opponent: Los Angeles Lakers
Result: Celtics over Lakers, 4-3
Finals Stats: 27.4 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 3.6 APG, 2.1 SPG, 1.1 BPG

When you hear Larry Bird's name, you don't immediately think of one of the game's best rebounders. However, that's just what he was in the 1984, as the Celtics' star grabbed 14 boards per night in addition to his customary scoring binges as Boston topped the Lakers in one of the all-time great Finals.

His comment after a Game 3 loss that the Celtics played like "sissies" ignited them in Game 4, with altercations such as Kevin McHale's clothesline of Kurt Rambis and Bird's scuffle with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar signifying that the Celtics weren't going away. Bird then followed that up with a virtuoso 34-point effort in Game 5 that gave the Celtics a 3-2 series lead, a night most remembered for the incredible 97 degree heat inside the air conditioning-free Boston Garden.

Team: Detroit Pistons
Opponent: Los Angeles Lakers
Result: Pistons over Lakers, 4-0
Finals stats: 27.3 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 6.0 APG

While he may now be better known as the guy who built the Pistons' 2004 championship squad (and more infamously passed on Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Carmelo Anthony in favor of Darko Milicic), Dumars was also a Finals MVP as he led the Pistons past the defending champion Lakers.

A relatively anonymous figure in the backcourt playing next to Isiah Thomas, Dumars busted out in the Finals with an incredible scoring display; he led all players with his 27.3 PPG average, put up 24 points in the first half of Game 2, and put in 17 in a row (and 21 total) during the third quarter of Game 3. His 23 points in Game 4 helped the Pistons finish off a sweep of a hobbled Lakers squad on the road in L.A. and earned Dumars the biggest individual honor of his Hall of Fame career.

Team: Houston Rockets
Opponent: New York Knicks
Result: Rockets over Knicks, 4-3
Finals stats: 26.9 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 3.9 BPG

The 1994 Finals was a brutal, physical affair between the Rockets and Knicks, and going against fellow Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing, Olajuwon thrived in this difficult playing environment. He absolutely demolished Ewing on both ends of the floor, outscoring his foe by almost 10 points per game and outshooting him 50 percent to 36.3 percent. Olajuwon capped his outstanding performance with a near triple-double in Game 7, scoring 25 points to go with 10 rebounds, seven assists, and three blocks as he guided his team to the first championship in franchise history. For "The Dream," the win served as vindication after a long wait just to get back to the Finals (he had lost there with the Rockets in 1986).

Team: Chicago Bulls
Opponent: Los Angeles Lakers
Result: Bulls over Lakers, 4-1
Finals stats: 31.2 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 11.4 APG, 2.8 SPG, 1.4 BPG

Every dynasty has to begin somewhere, and for the Bulls that was in the 1991 Finals against the aging Los Angeles Lakers. This series marked a significant changing of the guard in the NBA, as Michael Jordan grossly outplayed Magic Johnson and effectively seized the reins as the league's signature player. The Bulls absolutely pummeled the Lakers, narrowly losing Game 1 before winning each of the next four in convincing fashion.

Jordan served as both scorer and distributor for his Bulls team, leading them in both points and assists per game for the series while also finishing third in rebounding. In capturing his first title, Jordan joined George Mikan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only players ever to win the league scoring title and the Finals MVP award in the same season.

Team: San Antonio Spurs
Opponent: New York Knicks
Result: Spurs over Knicks, 4-1
Finals stats: 27.4 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.2 BPG

Duncan avoided a sophomore slump and affirmed his superstar status with an outstanding year in the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season, capping it all with a dominant performance against the Knicks in the Finals. Duncan and David Robinson simply bullied the Knicks' frontcourt of Larry Johnson and Marcus Camby, and for the series Duncan had nearly twice as many rebounds as anyone from New York. He was a tireless workhorse for an otherwise veteran-laden Spurs team, averaging 46 minutes played per game despite getting hammered under the basket by the notoriously brutal Knicks defense. His monster Game 5 (31 points and nine rebounds) set the stage for Avery Johnson's dramatic game-winning jumper with 47 seconds to play.

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Opponent: New Jersey Nets
Result: Lakers over Nets, 4-0
Finals stats: 36.3 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 3.8 APG, 2.8 BPG

While Shaq was notorious for his "on/off" switch, there's no doubt that when the NBA Finals rolled around the big man was always fully engaged. Going against an undersized Nets squad, the Diesel absolutely owned the paint as he shot a ridiculous 59.5 percent from the field. With New Jersey in full-on desperate Hack-a-Shaq mode, the Lakers' center was clutch at the free throw line too, going 45-68 (just over 66 percent) in his team's four game sweep. For Shaq, it was his third straight title and third straight Finals MVP award, joining him with Michael Jordan as the only players in league history to accomplish the feat.

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Opponent: Orlando Magic
Result: Lakers over Magic, 4-1
Finals Stats: 32.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.4 BPG

Kobe won his first title without Shaq in dominant fashion, scoring at least 29 points in all five games and simply dominating Orlando as he took home MVP honors. The Magic had no answer for the Lakers' star shooting guard, throwing pretty much any warm body they could find at him but never really finding a way to stop him.

Rather than by scoring, Kobe made several of his best plays of the series passing the ball; his dishes to Pau Gasol late in Games 2 and 4 helped give the Lakers late leads, and he had eight assists in four of the series' five games. That's not to say Kobe didn't hit clutch shots, though. In overtime of Game 4, it was his consecutive contested jumpers that gave the Lakers a lead they wouldn't surrender in taking an insurmountable 3-1 series lead.

Team: Chicago Bulls
Opponent: Portland Trail Blazers
Result: Bulls over Trail Blazers, 4-2
Finals stats: 35.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.7 SPG

The hype leading into the 1992 Finals centered around the supposed "rivalry" between Jordan and Clyde Drexler. Jordan, obviously irked to be compared on the same level as his Dream Team teammate, came out firing in Game 1, which would soon become known as the "Shrug Game." Jordan's first half three-point barrage (he hit six) propelled the Bulls to a huge lead and helped Jordan set a new Finals record for points in a half (35). He followed that up with several more strong performances, including 46 points in Game 5 and a strong 4th quarter in Game 6 to help the Bulls capture their second consecutive title.

Team: San Antonio Spurs
Opponent: New Jersey Nets
Result: Spurs over Nets, 4-2
Finals stats: 24.2 PPG, 17.0 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 5.3 BPG

The swan song of the Spurs' "Twin Towers," Tim Duncan truly put on display how truly dominant in the paint he had become. Only once in the entire series did he fail to grab at least 16 rebounds in a game, and he had seven or more blocks in three of six contests. He capped off this outstanding run with a Game 6 for the ages, nearly registering a quadruple-double as he ended up with 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, and 8 blocks on the night. Duncan's 32 total blocks are still a single-series NBA playoff record.

Team: Golden State Warriors
Opponent: Washington Bullets
Result: Warriors over Bullets, 4-0
Finals stats: 29.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 5.0 APG, 3.5 SPG

Barry fueled the Warriors' four game sweep of the Bullets, leading both teams in scoring and helping his underdog Warriors stun the basketball world. Barry's composure in Game 4 despite getting physically assaulted by the Bullets' defense and losing his coach to an ejection helped the Warriors complete their victory on the road in front of a hostile Washington crowd. The Warriors ended up taking the series by a cumulative total of 16 points—by far the lowest in NBA Finals history—further underscoring the importance of every single one of Barry's baskets. He was his team's only big scoring threat, and by playing his best when they needed him most he justly deserved the MVP trophy.

Team: Miami Heat
Opponent: Oklahoma City Thunder
Result: Heat over Thunder, 4-1
Finals stats: 28.6 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.6 SPG

After a hugely disappointing 2011 Finals in which he averaged just 17.8 points per game (including just eight in a Game 4 loss), LeBron needed a big performance in last year's Finals to shake the perception that he wasn't a big game performer once and for all. Needless to say, he responded in a huge way; he absolutely dominated Oklahoma City throughout the series never failing to score at least 26 points or grab at least eight rebounds per game. He capped off his incredible series with a triple-double in the clinching Game 5, grabbing 11 rebounds and handing out 13 assists to go with his 26 points as Miami won their first title of the LeBron Era.

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Opponent: Boston Celtics
Result: Lakers over Celtics, 4-2
Finals stats: 26.2 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 13.0 APG, 2.3 SPG

Magic was his typical self during the 1987 Finals, posting near triple-double averages and generally wreaking havoc as his Lakers won the rubber match of their three mid-'80s clashes against the Boston Celtics.

He led the Lakers in all statistical categories except blocks, orchestrating the "Showtime" offense with his typical mastery as a tired Celtics squad fresh off a seven game conference finals struggled to keep up. In Game 4, Magic hit his iconic "Junior, junior skyhook" over the outstretched arms of Kevin McHale and Robert Parish to win the game and give his team a 3-1 series lead, effectively burying the Celtics. He then helped close out the series with 16 points, eight rebounds, and 19 assists in Game 6, prompting Larry Bird to call Magic, "The best [basketball player] I've ever seen."

Team: Houston Rockets
Opponent: Orlando Magic
Result: Rockets over Magic, 4-0
Finals stats: 32.8 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 5.5 APG, 2.0 SPG, 2.0 BPG

Matched up with dominant young star Shaquille O'Neal, "The Dream" showed why he is one of greatest centers in NBA history as he absolutely thrashed the Magic star and propelled his Rockets team to their second consecutive title. Hakeem was remarkably consistent, scoring between 31 and 35 points in each of the four games and shooting either right at or just under 50 percent from the floor each time.

He also became just the fourth player in history to score at least 30 points in every game of a Finals, joining Elgin Baylor (1962), Rick Barry (1967), and Michael Jordan (1993). Olajuwon's three-pointer right in Shaq's face during Game 4 became a lasting image of the Rockets' dominance in a series best remembered for Nick Anderson's missed free throws in Game 1 and Robert Horry's three in Game 3.

Team: Chicago Bulls
Opponent: Utah Jazz
Result: Bulls over Jazz, 4-2
Finals stats: 33.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.8 SPG

No matter which Jordan MVP performance you pick, you're going to find one iconic moment. Jordan's jumper over Byron Russell may just be the signature moment of MJ's entire career, a fitting ending for a player whose penchant for coming through when it mattered most has become the most indelible mark of his greatness.

In a way, these moments have also overshadowed his incredible consistency throughout these championship series, and in this instance "The Final Shot" overshadows everything he did in the final minute of Game 6 just to get to that point. After John Stockton hit a three to give the Jazz a three-point lead with 41.9 seconds to play, Jordan promptly hit a layup then ripped the ball away from Karl Malone to get his team the ball back with 20 seconds to go. The rest, as they say, is history.

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Opponent: Philadelphia 76ers
Result: Lakers over 76ers, 4-1
Finals stats: 33.0 PPG, 15.8 RPG, 4.8 APG, 0.4 SPG, 3.4 BPG

The Lakers rolled into the 2001 Finals without losing a playoff game, which made the 76ers' upset in Game 1 all the more stunning. While Shaq certainly couldn't be blamed for that one (he had 44 points and 20 rebounds, including 18 in the third quarter), the big man came back with a vengeance in Game 2. Implored by Phil Jackson to assert himself down low, Shaq narrowly missed out on a quadruple-double as he tallied 28 points, 20 rebounds, nine assists, and eight blocks as the Lakers retook control of the series. The momentum boost Shaq's performance provided propelled the Lakers to three consecutive wins on the road in Philadelphia to seal their second consecutive title.

Team: New York Knicks
Opponent: Los Angeles Lakers
Result: Knicks over Lakers, 4-3
Finals stats: 23.0 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 2.8 APG

There is perhaps no more iconic image of an MVP-winning performance than Reed gamely hobbling out of the Knicks locker room to start warming up for Game 7 in Madison Square Garden, as it represents everything an MVP should give to his team. That moment has completely dwarfed the reality of what happened next; even though many think Reed carried the Knicks to victory and the title that night, he actually scored just four points and then left the game during the first quarter and did not return.

However, his performance in the first five games (he missed Game 6 with the same injury) was what really cemented his MVP case; in Game 1, he put up a 37-16-5, and for the entire series was a reliable interior presence, holding Wilt Chamberlain in check and averaged 31.8 points per game during the first four contests.

Team: Chicago Bulls
Opponent: Utah Jazz
Result: Bulls over Jazz, 4-2
Finals stats: 32.3 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.2 SPG

Jordan's 1997 Finals are remembered mostly for the world-famous "Flu Game," but his dominance extended far beyond just that one night. In fact, having recovered slightly from his illness, Jordan turned in perhaps his best performance of the series in the deciding Game 6 as he grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out four assists to go with his 39 points. Much to the shock of everyone watching, his finest individual play was actually an assist; it was Jordan who drew the double-team from John Stockton that freed Steve Kerr, and MJ found his teammate for the open jumper that clinched the game and the Bulls' second consecutive title.

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Opponent: New York Knicks
Result: Lakers over Knicks, 4-1
Finals stats: 19.4 PPG, 23.2 RPG, 2.6 APG

The 1972 Lakers were an absolute juggernaut, winning 33 games in a row at one point en route to a 69-13 record. Anchoring the middle for this veteran squad was Wilt Chamberlain, who despite being 35-years-old was still more than capable of a vintage performance on the big stage. He led everyone in minutes played as he averaged over 47 minutes per night, including all 53 minutes of the overtime Game 4. Wilt saved his best for the deciding Game 5, dominating the tired Knicks to the tune of a near quadruple-double with 24 points, 29 rebounds, eight assists, and eight blocks, and this performance secured the Big Dipper his second title and first Finals MVP trophy.

Team: Boston Celtics
Opponent: Houston Rockets
Result: Celtics over Rockets, 4-2
Finals stats: 24.0 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 9.5 APG, 2.7 SPG

Capping off one of the greatest seasons in NBA history, the Celtics and Larry Bird knocked off the Houston Rockets in a hard-fought Finals. If you round off, Bird averaged a triple-double en route to winning MVP honors, a total otherwise not seen in Finals history. While he played well in each game, it was his Game 6 performance that cemented his legend. With revenge on his mind after the Rockets' Ralph Sampson threw several punches at Celtics reserve guard Jerry Sichting in Game 5, Bird came out firing as he finished Houston off with a triple-double of 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists. The Celtics opened up an 18-point halftime lead and cruised from there, cementing Bird's much-deserved MVP award.

Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Opponent: Los Angeles Lakers
Result: 76ers over Lakers, 4-0
Finals stats: 25.8 PPG, 18.0 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.5 BPG

In the year of his "Fo fo fo" guarantee, Moses Malone was absolutely incredible in the Finals as the 76ers avenged their loss at the hands of the Lakers from the previous season. He looked every bit the MVP as he carried his team, dominating Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the paint as he corralled 18 rebounds per game, including an average of 6.8 on the offensive glass. His 27 total offensive rebounds are still a record for a four game series. He was incredibly reliable scoring as well, going for between 24 and 28 points in each game and shooting 50 percent from the floor for the series.

Team: Milwaukee Bucks
Opponent: Baltimore Bullets
Result: Bucks over Bullets, 4-0
Finals stats: 27.0 PPG, 18.5 RPG, 2.8 APG

In just his second year in the league, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then-Lew Alcindor) was already proving that he was going to be one of the great players of his generation. In the Finals, he manhandled the much shorter Wes Unseld under the basket and made the Bullets' lives miserable on offense, holding Baltimore to under 40 percent shooting in three of the four games.

Jabbar had a huge Game 1, scoring 31 points despite battling first-half foul trouble and pacing his team to a key win. He was even better in Game 2, registering a triple-double with 49 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists, then followed that up with 23 points and 21 boards in Game 3 and another 27 points in Game 4. Even though his performance was overshadowed by teammate Oscar Robertson winning his first title, Kareem deservedly earned his first of two MVP awards.

Team: Miami Heat
Opponent: Dallas Mavericks
Result: Heat over Mavericks, 4-2
Finals stats: 34.7 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 3.8 APG, 2.7 SPG, 1.0 BPG

Perhaps no player in recent history has been more essential to his team's success in the Finals than Wade in 2006, when Miami rode some of the finest performances of the guard's career to the first title in franchise history. Wade's effort facing a potential 3-0 series deficit in Game 3, in particular—where he scored 42 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and led the Heat to a win after trailing by 13 points with six minutes to go—is one of the best single-game efforts in the history of the Finals.

After struggling a bit in the first two games (both Miami losses), Wade averaged 39.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game over the next four as the Heat rallied to take four straight to stun the Mavericks.

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Opponent: Philadelphia 76ers
Result: Lakers over 76ers, 4-2
Finals stats: 21.5 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 8.7 APG, 2.7 SPG

Magic's incredible Game 6 is rightly celebrated as one of the greatest (if not the greatest) single-game performances in NBA playoff history, but let's not forget that he played five awesome games before he took the floor in Philadelphia as the Lakers' starting center.

Despite being a rookie and just 20 years old at the time, Magic played with a veteran's poise as he fed the ball to star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who attacked the heart of the 76ers defense with great gusto. After Kareem's ankle injury rendered him unable to play in Game 6, Magic showed that he too was destined for stardom as he posted 42 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists out of the center spot. On the strength of Magic's MVP performance, the Lakers won their first of five titles in the 1980s.

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Opponent: Indiana Pacers
Result: Lakers over Pacers, 4-2
Finals stats: 38.0 PPG, 16.7 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.7 BPG

Shaq's performance in the Lakers' six-game takedown of the Pacers is perhaps one of the greatest single-series efforts in NBA playoff history. His dominance was truly incredible: he set an NBA record for most free throws attempted in a game (38) in Game 2, never scored fewer than 33 points, and more than made up for the absence of Kobe Bryant, who suffered an ankle injury in Game 2 and was never right during the series. While conditioning was never really Shaq's forte, he also played at least 42 minutes in every game, including 47 minutes on three separate occasions. Poor Rik Smits had no answer for Shaq, as he averaged 10 points and just four rebounds for the series and promptly retired after the playoffs ended.

Team: Chicago Bulls
Opponent: Phoenix Suns
Result: Bulls over Suns, 4-2
Finals stats: 41.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.7 SPG

The one-on-one battle with his Dream Team teammate Charles Barkley brought out the best in Michael Jordan, who put up the best numbers in a Finals of his illustrious career. MJ was simply unstoppable against Phoenix, scoring 40-plus points in four of the six games and set a Finals record with his 41.0 points per game average.

He also joined Magic Johnson (and was later joined by Shaq, and himself again) as the only players to win the Finals MVP award three times. For the Bulls, the title capped their first three-peat and it certainly looked like they were on their way to a Celtics-esque dynasty. However, three and a half months later, Jordan would retire (for the first time) to play baseball.

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Opponent: Boston Celtics
Result: Celtics over Lakers, 4-3
Finals stats: 37.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 7.4 APG

It was fitting that in the first year of the Finals MVP award's existence, its winner would make history. Despite his incredible performance, Jerry West was unable to guide his Lakers team past the Celtics in a classic seven game series. West's 37.9 points per game average was a record that stood until 1993, and he remains the only player from the losing team ever to win the award.

Game 7, in particular, demonstrated just how great The Logo was; he posted a triple-double of 42 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists, keeping his team in the game despite the fact that he was battling a hamstring pull and Wilt Chamberlain was inexplicably riding the bench late in the fourth quarter. The agonizing loss in the Finals was West's seventh, although he would finally get his elusive title three years later.