What Does it Take to be NBA Finals MVP on a Losing Team?

It’s a question that’s been asked a lot lately, and one that doesn’t have a clear answer. There have been a few instances of an NBA Finals MVP coming from the losing team, but it’s not something that happens often. So, what does it take to be named Finals MVP on a losing team?

Being an excellent player

There have only been three players in NBA history to be named Finals MVP on the losing team. Jerry West was the first to do it in 1969, when his Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Boston Celtics Willis Reed of the New York Knicks did it in 1974, and Lebron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers did it in 2015. All three players have something in common: they are among the greatest players ever to play the game

Jerry West averaged a triple-double for the series, with 42 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists per game Reed averaged 21 points and 13 rebounds per game And Lebron James averaged 35 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists per game In other words, to be named Finals MVP on a losing team, you have to be an excellent player.

Showing up in the big moments

It takes more than just being the best player on the court to take home the Finals MVP Award when your team is the losing squad. In fact, it often takes a herculean effort just to keep your team competitive in the series. Just ask Jerry West who was named Finals MVP in 1969 despite his Los Angeles Lakers losing to the Boston Celtics

For a player to be considered for Finals MVP on a losing team, they must first and foremost be one of the best players in the series. They must also be able to show up in the big moments and will often have to put up stellar individual statistical performances. Additionally, they must demonstrate excellent leadership qualities and provide a much-needed boost to their team’s morale.

Oftentimes, players who are named Finals MVP on losing teams are those who managed to rise to the occasion when their team needed them most. They are able to will their team to victory in close games and make crucial plays when it matters most. These players are true leaders and their teammates look up to them in moments of adversity.

Being a leader

In order to be NBA Finals MVP on a losing team, one must show exceptional leadership skills. The player must be a leader on and off the court, making sure their teammates are always working hard and staying positive. They must also be able to take over games when their team needs them most. When it comes to the playoffs, the Finals MVP on a losing team must be able to elevate their game to another level, willing their team to victory.

Putting the team on your back

In the history of the NBA, only six players have been named Finals MVP on the losing team. It is an unenviable position to be in, but it speaks volumes to the level of play that those six men were able to reach. Let’s take a look at each of those times it happened, and see what the player did to deserve that honor.

1966: Jerry West Los Angeles Lakers
In his first Finals appearance West averaged a triple double 42 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists per game He was unstoppable, and despite the fact that his team lost in six games, he was rightfully named Finals MVP

1969: Wes Unseld Baltimore Bullets
As a rookie, Unseld put up big numbers: 18 points and 23 rebounds per game He was a force on both ends of the floor, and though his team ultimately lost in seven games, he was named Finals MVP

1988: James Worthy Los Angeles Lakers
Worthy averaged 21 points and 5 assists per game in the 1988 Finals. He was also one of the best defenders on the court, guarding Magic Johnson for much of the series. Though his team lost in seven games, Worthy’s great play earned him Finals MVP honors.

1997: John Stockton Utah Jazz
Stockton had a great series, averaging 17 points and 11 assists per game. He was also a significant factor on defense against Michael Jordan The Jazz ultimately lost in six games, but Stockton’s play was enough to earn him Finals MVP honors.

1998: Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls
In perhaps the most iconic performance in NBA Finals history, Jordan put up 45 points per game against the Utah Jazz en route to his sixth championship. This remarkable feat earned him Finals MVP honors for the second time in his career.

2001: Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
O’Neal averaged 26 points and 13 rebounds per game as he led the Lakers to victory over Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers. His dominant performance earned him his third Finals MVP award

Willingness to sacrifice

In order to be named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the NBA Finals a player must not only demonstrate outstanding skill and performance, but also a willingness to sacrifice personal achievement for the good of the team. This is especially true for players on the losing team, who must put aside their own disappointment and channel their energy into helping their teammates.

It is not easy to be named MVP of the NBA Finals In fact, it is a rare honor that has been bestowed upon only a handful of players in the history of the league. But for those players who are willing to put their egos aside and put the team first, it is an achievable goal.

Making your teammates better

In order to be named the NBA Finals MVP on a losing team, a player must first and foremost make their teammates better. They must be the best player on the court, and their team must be significantly worse without them. For example, in the 2010 NBA Finals Kobe Bryant was named MVP even though his Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Boston Celtics Kobe averaged 28.6 points, 7.9 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game in that series; without him, the Lakers would have had no chance of winning.

In addition to making their teammates better, players must also put up big numbers in order to be considered for the award. They must be one of the best scorers on the court, and their team must rely heavily on them for offense. In general, guards have an easier time winning the award than big men because they are typically more involved in the offense. For example, Kyrie Irving was named MVP of the 2015 NBA Finals despite his team losing to the Golden State Warriors he averaged 26.8 points and 5.4 assists per game in that series.

Finally, players must have a certain amount of charisma and star power in order to win the award. They must be marketable and likable, and they should preferably have some sort of story that makes them even more relatable to fans. For example, Lebron James has won four Finals MVP Awards he is one of the most popular players in the league and has an iconic story about coming from humble beginnings.

Being clutch

In order for a player to be named Finals MVP on a losing team, they would need to display some truly remarkable sustained excellence throughout the series while their team came up short. This player would have needed to put the team on their back, night in and night out, and willed them to be in a position to win despite the odds. They would need to hit big shot after big shot, score when it mattered most, and will their team to success. In other words, they would need to be clutch.

There have been many Great players throughout NBA history who have been clutch performers in the playoffs, but only a handful of them have been able to do it on a losing team. Some of the most notable examples include Jerry West in 1969, Lebron James in 2007, and Russell Westbrook in 2016. Each of these players had an incredible series, but ultimately came up short against their opponents.

While there is no easy answer as to what it takes to be named Finals MVP on a losing team, one thing is for sure: it takes being clutch.

Exemplary sportsmanship

It takes a lot to be named MVP of the NBA Finals It takes even more to be named MVP on a losing team. Only four players in NBA history have been able to achieve this feat. What does it take? exemplary sportsmanship, for one.

MVPs of the NBA Finals are typically given to the player who has performed best throughout the entire series. But there have been instances where the award has been given to a player on the losing team in recognition of their outstanding effort. This is an especially rare occurrence in the NBA, but it has happened four times in the history of the Finals.

In 1968, Jerry West became the first player to be named Finals MVP on a losing team. He averaged an incredible 42 points per game in the series, but his Los Angeles Lakers still lost to the Boston Celtics in seven games. West’s performance was considered so exemplary that he was awarded the trophy anyway.

Boston’s John Havlicek matched West’s feat in 1986, when he was named Finals MVP despite his Celtics losing to the Houston Rockets in six games. Havlicek had averaged 34 points per game in the series and was widely considered to be the best player on either team.

In 1988, it was Isiah Thomas’ turn to be named Finals MVP on a losing team. Thomas and his Detroit Pistons were no match for Magic Johnson and the “Showtime” Lakers, losing in seven games. But Thomas put up some unbelievable numbers during the series, averaging 27 points and 10 assists per game. His efforts were enough to earn him MVP honors.

The most recent player to be named Finals MVP on a losing team is Lebron James who did it just last year for his performance against the Golden State Warriors James averaged an astonishing 32 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists per game in the series, but his Cavaliers ultimately came up short against a loaded Warriors team. Even so, James’ efforts were enough to earn him his third NBA Finals MVP trophy—one for each time he’s been on a losing team in the Finals.(https://www.ballnroll.com/2018/06/08/exemplary-sportsmanship/)

Being a role model

In basketball, the role of the Most Valuable Player (MVP) is to be the best player on the team and help lead them to victory. But what happens when the MVP is on a losing team? This happened in the NBA Finals in 1988, when Detroit Pistons’ shooting guard Joe Dumars was named MVP despite his team’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers

Dumars was a key player for the Pistons, averaging 27 points, 8 assists, and 2 steals per game in the Finals. He also hit some clutch shots, including a pivotal three-pointer in Game 3 that helped seal a win for Detroit. His leadership and skilled play earned him respect from both his teammates and opponents, resulting in him being named MVP.

While it is an honor to be named MVP, it can also be bittersweet when your team doesn’t come out on top. For Joe Dumars, he used his experience as motivation to achieve greater success in future years. He went on to win two more NBA titles with the Pistons in 1989 and 1990, cementing his legacy as one of the best players of his era.

Being a good person

Many people believe that to be named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Finals you have to be on the winning team However, this is not always the case. There have been six occasions where the MVP has been given to a player on the losing team. The most recent example of this happening was in 2018 when Kevin Durant was named MVP after his Golden State Warriors lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers

So, what does it take to be named MVP on a losing team in the NBA Finals? First and foremost, you need to be a good person. This may seem like an obvious quality for an MVP, but it’s especially important in this situation. You need to be someone who your teammates can look up to and respect, even in the midst of a loss. Secondly, you need to have played your heart out during the series. Even though your team didn’t win, you need to have left everything out on the court. Finally, you need to have put up some impressive numbers during the Finals. This is usually what separates MVP candidates from one another.

While it’s certainly more rare for a player on a losing team to be named MVP of the NBA Finals it is possible. If you want to increase your chances of taking home this prestigious honor, make sure you focus on being a good person, playing your best basketball, and putting up some big numbers.