The NBA Finals MVP is where legacy talk turns into truth. It’s the award that separates the stars from true superstars who can truly take over the stage. Michael Jordan owns the throne with six Finals MVPs, a total as absurd as it is untouched. No one else in NBA history has even five.
LeBron James? He’s chasing. Magic Johnson? He made it look easy. Tim Duncan? Quietly dominant. When you stack the resumes, not everyone measures up the way the ring count might suggest.
So we’re ranking them, every player with more than one Finals MVP, from greatness to GOAT territory. Can anybody ever catch MJ? Let's go through the list of NBA superstars with multiple trophies.
1. Michael Jordan – 6 Finals MVPs
Unknown Date; Orlando, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Chicago Bulls guard (23) Michael Jordan in action against the Orlando Magic at the Orlando Arena. Mandatory Credit: Photo By Imagn Images (c) Copyright Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Photo By Imagn Images (c) Copyright Imagn Images
6× Finals MVP: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
Michael Jordan took over from the jump. In the 1991 Finals against the Lakers, he flirted with a triple-double: 31.2 PPG, 11.4 APG, 6.6 RPG, 2.8 SPG, 1.4 BPG in just five games, shooting an efficient 55.8% from the field, and did so in clutch moments that swung momentum, including a 33-point, 13-assist, 7-rebound clinic in Game 2 on 15-of-18 shooting.
He won Finals MVP over the next two seasons, posting 35.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 6.5 APG in a six-game destruction of the Trail Blazers, followed by an average of 41.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG, and 6.3 APG against Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns.
He wasn’t just scoring; Jordan was reading the floor, distributing, forcing turnovers, and tipping blocks. That series felt like a clinic. And it set the tone for the Bulls’ dynasty.
Fast-forward to 1996: MJ’s first Finals after his first retirement, 27.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.2 APG across six games, guiding those record-breaking 72-win Bulls past Seattle. Now matured, Jordan was still dominant, efficient, and always in control. He would post 32.3 PPG and 7.0 RPG in 1997, and 33.5 PPG in 1998 to complete his second three-peat.
Jordan essentially led every offensive metric and carried the weight on both ends and killing the competition and every opponent in the process. From his first step to his final fadeaway in '98, Jordan redefined what Finals MVP greatness looks like, with six rings and six MVPs, a perfect record that will likely stand the test of time.
2. LeBron James – 4 Finals MVPs
Dallas, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dribbles during the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Dallas, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dribbles during the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
4× Finals MVP: 2012, 2013, 2016, 2020
LeBron James’ first taste came in 2012, leading the Miami Heat past the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games. He dropped 28.6 PPG, 10.2 RPG, and 7.4 APG, combining scoring, rebounding, and playmaking to close the series dominantly. That all-around production marked the moment he finally shook the “can’t win the big one” label, and it sent a message: his game was deeper than shine and hype.
In 2013, LeBron followed up with 25.3 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 7.0 APG, 2.3 SPG, and 0.9 BPG across seven games against the Spurs. He orchestrated the offense, stifled passing lanes, and helped deliver a second straight title.
Then in 2016, he produced a legendary trilogy: an epic 41-point Game 5, another monster Game 6 (41 points), and a triple-double (29.7/11.3/8.9) in Game 7, including the iconic chase-down block and consistent dominance across all five major statistical categories.
Finally, in 2020 with the Lakers, LeBron again went to work: 29.8 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 8.5 APG, in a series sweep over Miami, becoming the first Finals MVP winner with three different franchises. In every one of those MVP runs, LeBron asserted himself as the fulcrum, whether breaking down defenses, dictating tempo, or delivering head-turning moments when the lights were brightest.
3. Tim Duncan – 3 Finals MVPs
Feb 27, 2011; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at the AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images
Feb 27, 2011; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at the AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images
3× Finals MVP: 1999, 2003, 2005
Tim Duncan was the epitome of postseason dominance. In 1999, he averaged 27.4 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 2.4 APG over five games, shooting 53.7% to take out the New York Knicks in a gritty series. The Big Fundamental was relentless on the boards and authoritative on both ends, leading his Spurs to their first-ever championship.
He wasn’t just the best player; he was the anchor of a defensive juggernaut that refused to lose. That series set the template for Duncan: unflashy, efficient, unstoppable. By 2003, Duncan elevated his game again: 24.2 PPG, 17.0 RPG, 5.3 APG, 5.3 BPG in a six-game Finals win over the Nets, racking up the most blocks in a single Finals series ever.
He even flirted with a quadruple-double in Game 6, ending with 21/20/10/8 in the clincher, orchestrating a defiant comeback from double-digit deficits. In 2005, Duncan again took over Game 7 against Detroit with 25 points and 11 rebounds, hitting clutch shots and asserting dominance late in the fourth. No theatrics, just fundamentals and three titles that perfectly match his MVP total.
4. Magic Johnson – 3 Finals MVPs
Magic Johnson
Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
3× Finals MVP: 1980, 1982, 1987
Legendary point guard Magic Johnson announced his arrival in the grandest possible way as a rookie in 1980. Playing center in Game 6, he exploded for 42 PPG, 15 RPG, 7 APG, doing a little bit of everything at age 20 to lead the Lakers past Philly and kick-start the Showtime era. Across the series, he averaged 21.5/11.2/8.7, orchestrating from every position and showing why positionless play was ahead of its time.
Magic struck again in 1982 and then in 1987, but it was the ’87 series against Boston that made him a psychological master. In six games, he averaged 26.2 PPG, 8.0 RPG, and 13.0 APG on 54.1% shooting, and every single offensive category was magnified as he dismantled a wounded Celtics squad.
And it wasn’t just numbers, he won the regular-season MVP that year, leading the league in assists (12.2 APG) and guiding the Lakers to a 65-17 record. That combination of efficiency, flair, and sheer dominance sealed his third Finals MVP and cemented his legacy as one of the game's artistic greats.
5. Shaquille O’Neal – 3 Finals MVPs
Shaquille O'Neal
Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
3× Finals MVP: 2000, 2001, 2002
Shaquille O'Neal stamped his dominance on the early-2000s NBA with one of the most overpowering Finals runs ever. In 2000, he averaged a monstrous 38.0 PPG, 16.7 RPG, 2.7 BPG, shooting 61.1% against Indiana to clinch MVP in six games.
He manhandled defenders nightly, combining brute force with surprising efficiency. He led all playoff scorers and rebounders by wide margins. His Game 2 performance (40 points, 24 rebounds) and ridiculous dominance showed how he turned the paint into his personal arena.
Shaq didn’t let up. In 2001, he followed up with 33.0 PPG, 15.8 RPG, 4.8 APG, 3.4 BPG, powering the Lakers to a 4–1 demolition of Philadelphia. That Game 2 saw 28/20/9/8, an almost unheard-of stat line. Then came 2002, when he averaged 36.3/12.3/3.8/2.8, carving up the Nets in a sweep, each series reinforcing the notion that no one could stop The Diesel.
His three-peat of Finals MVPs put him beside MJ in an elite, nearly mythical stratosphere, but it never dropped to two awards, reinforcing the all-or-nothing aura Shaq carried into every series.
6. Kareem Abdul‑Jabbar – 2 Finals MVPs
Dec 1969; USA; FILE PHOTO; Milwaukee Bucks center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33) against the New York Knicks. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Network.
Dec 1969; USA; FILE PHOTO; Milwaukee Bucks center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33) against the New York Knicks. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Network.
Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Network.
2× Finals MVP: 1971, 1985
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar burst onto the Finals stage in 1971, then known as Lew Alcindor, with his signature skyhook dominating a sweep of Baltimore. Across four games, he averaged 27.0 PPG, 18.5 RPG, and 2.8 APG, shooting a blistering 60.5% from the floor.
Game 4 was the crown: 27 points, 12 boards, and 7 assists to close out the championship run. It wasn’t just raw stats; Kareem proved he could carry the offensive load, own the glass, and impact the game across the board, all while doing it with unshakeable calm.
His second Finals MVP came in the 1985 Finals, now in purple and gold, leading the Lakers past the Celtics. He posted 25.7 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 5.2 APG, 1.5 BPG, and 60.4% shooting over six games. At 38 years old, Kareem still controlled the paint, orchestrated his team, and thumped the Celtics at both ends.
That era-defined dominance at two different peaks, rookie skyscraper and wise veteran, cemented Kareem as a two-time Finals MVP in two different generations.
7. Larry Bird – 2 Finals MVPs
Unknown date; Boston, MA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird (33) in action at the Boston Garden. Mandatory Credit: Dick Raphael-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Dick Raphael-Imagn Images
2× Finals MVP: 1984, 1986
Larry Bird’s first Finals MVP came in 1984, when he sliced through the Lakers with an all-axis attack. Across seven games, he averaged 27.4 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 3.6 APG, shooting 48.4% and leading Boston to a 4–3 series victory over L.A. Every stat sheet shimmered with efficiency, 66.7% from deep, dominant rebounding, and timely playmaking. He carried Boston’s top-heavy offense and outworked younger competition.
His second came in 1986 against the Rockets, after losing the 1985 Finals to the Lakers, Bird returned with vengeance. In Game 6, he posted a masterful triple-double (29-11-12, plus 3 steals) to close the series and earned Finals MVP honors with averages of 24.0 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 9.5 APG, shooting 48.2% from the field and a solid 36.8% from deep.
That performance, two triple-doubles and surgical leadership, defined why Bird wasn’t just a scorer or passer, but a cerebral heavyweight. His ability to tilt a series with all-around domination marked Bird as a two-time Finals MVP who delivered when the moment demanded.
8. Kobe Bryant – 2 Finals MVPs
Kobe Bryant
Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
2× Finals MVP: 2009, 2010
Kobe Bryant’s first Finals MVP came in 2009, when he took over a dethroned Lakers squad and dropped 32.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 7.4 APG over five games, firing at 43% from the field and 84.1% from the line. With Pau Gasol as foil, he led every fourth-quarter rally, capped by a series-sealing 30/6/6 in Game 5 to reclaim L.A.’s throne. His efficiency, fearless leadership, and rediscovered swagger reminded the league: Mamba’s bite still kills.
The following year, Kobe powered a grittier revival in 2010 against Boston. In a seven-game grindout, he posted 28.6 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, 2.1 SPG on 40.5% shooting, less volume, more clutch grit. His late-game composure, deadly mid-range footwork, and two major Game 7 baskets (with a vintage 23 points and 15 rebounds in the decider) anchored that year’s win. Kobe’s back-to-back Finals MVPs bookend an era of legacy redemption, proof of his undeniable killer instinct.
9. Kevin Durant – 2 Finals MVPs
October 21, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) during the third quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Trail Blazers 107-96. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
2× Finals MVP: 2017, 2018
Kevin Durant burned bright immediately in Golden State. In 2017, he dropped 35.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 5.4 APG against Cleveland; his lowest output was still 30-plus, and he sealed Game 3 with a legendary clutch dagger over LeBron. He became the storybook ending of the Warriors dynasty: the final piece who dominated when it mattered most, earning his first Finals MVP in five games.
He doubled down in 2018, tallying 28.8 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 7.5 APG, 2.3 BPG, highlighted by a 43-point, 13-rebound, 7-assist explosion in Game 3 and a playoff triple-double (20 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists) in the clincher. Beyond the box score, Durant brought fearsome spacing and elite defense to complement Golden State’s core, proving he wasn’t just the star but the best player in the most dominant era of basketball.
10. Kawhi Leonard – 2 Finals MVPs
Nov 7, 2018; Sacramento, CA, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts after a basket against the Sacramento Kings during the fourth quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images
2× Finals MVP: 2014, 2019
Kawhi Leonard's defensive lockdown and efficient offense made him the Finals MVP in 2014. Facing Miami, he stuffed stat sheets with 17.8 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.2 BPG, shooting 61.2% and ending the series with a jaw-dropping TS% of 75.3%, one of the most efficient runs in Finals history. His two-way dominance in the Spurs’ surgical execution stunned everyone.
In 2019, Kawhi shifted gears in Toronto for the Raptors. He averaged 28.5 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 4.2 APG, 2.0 SPG, 1.2 BPG en route to delivering Canada’s first NBA championship, highlighted by the fact that the dynasty Warriors were defeated. That brutal slash-and-paint performance reinforced his elite two-way identity: a silent assassin capable of single-handedly transcending franchises.
11. Hakeem Olajuwon – 2 Finals MVPs
Unknown Date; Orlando, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Houston Rockets center #34 HAKEEM OLAJUWON in action against the Orlando Magic at the Orlando Arena during the 1991-92 season. Mandatory Credit: Photo By Imagn Images (c) Copyright Imagn Images
Unknown Date; Orlando, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Houston Rockets center #34 HAKEEM OLAJUWON in action against the Orlando Magic at the Orlando Arena during the 1991-92 season. Mandatory Credit: Photo By Imagn Images (c) Copyright Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Photo By Imagn Images (c) Copyright Imagn Images
2× Finals MVP: 1994, 1995
The Dream carried the Houston Rockets in 1994: 26.9 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 3.9 BPG on 50% shooting across seven games against the Knicks, highlighted by a late-game block that sealed Game 7. He neutralized Patrick Ewing with intimidation and finesse, asserting his supremacy at both ends of the floor.
A season later, Hakeem Olajuwon obliterated Shaq and Orlando, averaging 32.8 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 5.5 APG on dominant efficiency across a four-game sweep. That back-to-back double tour of dominance, a perfect blend of footwork, defense, and control, solidified him as the last center-centric Finals MVP in NBA lore.
12. Willis Reed – 2 Finals MVPs
Unknown date; Atlanta, GA, USA; FILE PHOTO; New York Knicks center Willis Reed (19) during a game against the Atlanta Hawks at The Omni. Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-Imagn Images
2× Finals MVP: 1970, 1973
Reed announced himself in the 1970 Finals with one of the most legendary Game 7 stories ever. He might’ve been hurt, but he still channeled grit into 23.0 PPG and 10.5 RPG across the series, delivering that iconic first bucket in Game 7 to spark a Knicks upset. He captured the Finals MVP through sheer heart and presence.
Three years later, he returned to Chicago in 1973 and delivered again (16.4 PPG, 9.2 RPG), anchoring defense, controlling the glass, and averaging similar production en route to another championship. Reed’s twin Finals MVPs are less about gaudy stats and more about heart, legacy, and that intangible “it” factor on the biggest stage.
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