Best Player in the NBA Finals (1947-2019):

(Thread )

I awarded the Best Player in every NBA Finals (1947-2019) in NBA History.

I also put (Argument) for some players who could have a reasonable argument as Best Player instead of the one I picked.

1940s

1947: Joe Fulks

1948: Joe Fulks

1949: George Mikan

1950s

1950: George Mikan

1951: Arnie Risen

1952: George Mikan

1953: George Mikan

1954: George Mikan

1955: Dolph Schayes

1956: George Yardley

1957: Bob Pettit

1958: Bob Pettit

1959: Bill Russell

1960s

1960: Bill Russell

1961: Cliff Hagan

1962: Elgin Baylor
(Argument: Bill Russell)

1963: Elgin Baylor
(Argument: Russell)

1964: Wilt Chamberlain

1965: Bill Russell

1966: Bill Russell

1967: Wilt Chamberlain

1968: Jerry West
(Argument: Russell)

1969: Jerry West

1970s

1970: Wilt Chamberlain

1971: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1972: Wilt Chamberlain

1973: Wilt Chamberlain

1974: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1975: Rick Barry

1976: Dave Cowens

1977: Julius Erving

1978: Elvin Hayes

1979: Gus Williams

1980s

1980: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1981: Moses Malone

1982: Julius Erving

1983: Moses Malone

1984: Larry Bird

1985: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
(Argument: Magic Johnson)

1986: Larry Bird

1987: Magic Johnson

1988: Magic Johnson

1989: Joe Dumars

1990s

1990: Clyde Drexler

1991: Michael Jordan

1992: Michael Jordan

1993: Michael Jordan

1994: Hakeem Olajuwon

1995: Hakeem Olajuwon

1996: Shawn Kemp
(Argument: Michael Jordan)

1997: Michael Jordan

1998: Michael Jordan

1999: Tim Duncan

2000s

2000: Shaquille O’Neal

2001: Shaquille O’Neal

2002: Shaquille O’Neal

2003: Tim Duncan

2004: Shaquille O’Neal

2005: Chauncey Billups
(Tim Duncan)

2006: Dwyane Wade

2007: Tony Parker
(Tim Duncan)

2008: Ray Allen
(Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce)

2009: Kobe Bryant

2010s

2010: Kobe Bryant
(Argument: Pau Gasol)

2011: Dwyane Wade

2012: LeBron James

2013: LeBron James

2014: LeBron James

2015: LeBron James

2016: LeBron James

2017: Kevin Durant
(Argument: LeBron James)

2018: LeBron James
(Argument: Kevin Durant)

2019: Kawhi Leonard

Final Count: (Max Count Possible)

LeBron James: 6 (7)
Michael Jordan: 5 (6)
Wilt Chamberlain: 5 (5)
George Mikan: 5 (5)
Bill Russell: 4 (7)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 4 (4)
Shaquille O’Neal: 4 (4)
Tim Duncan: 2 (4)
Magic Johnson: 2 (3)
Larry Bird: 2 (2)
Jerry West: 2 (2)
(Continued)

Kobe Bryant: 2 (3)
Hakeem Olajuwon: 2 (2)
Bob Pettit: 2 (2)
Julius Erving: 2 (2)
Elgin Baylor: 2 (2)
Moses Malone: 2 (2)
Dwyane Wade: 2 (2)
Joe Fulks: 2 (2)
Kevin Durant: 1 (2)
Kawhi Leonard: 1 (1)
Ray Allen: 1 (1)
Arnie Risen: 1 (1)
Dolph Schayes: 1 (1)
(Continued)

George Yardley: 1 (1)
Cliff Hagan: 1 (1)
Rick Barry: 1 (1)
Dave Cowens: 1 (1)
Elvin Hayes: 1 (1)
Gus Williams: 1 (1)
Joe Dumars: 1 (1)
Clyde Drexler: 1 (1)
Shawn Kemp: 1 (1)
Chauncey Billups: 1 (1)
Tony Parker: 1 (1)
Paul Pierce: 0 (1)
Pau Gasol: 0 (1)