Winning an NBA championship, Finals MVP, and regular season MVP is a rare feat to accomplish in the NBA. It is so rare in fact, that only a handful of players have ever accomplished it. When you add the stipulation of an All-Star Game MVP into the mix in the same season, there have been only four players to capture all four trophies in a single season in 77 years of NBA history.
This rare feat of winning an All-Star Game MVP, MVP, Finals MVP, and a championship in the same season has not occurred since 2000 and has only been accomplished by three players for a total of four times. Let’s find out who these players that share rarified air are, and how they landed in the NBA history books forever.
Willis Reed – 1970
The 1969-70 season was one to remember for Willis Reed and the Knicks York Knicks. With the big man heading into his sixth season with the team, expectations were high thanks to the plethora of top stars who had gathered in New York on their chase for an NBA title. It started with the All-Star Game for Reed who led the East to a win over the West with 22 points and 11 rebounds on 9-18 shooting from the field to win MVP.
Reed would then lead the Knicks to a 60-22 regular season record as the only team to win 60 games throughout the regular season. Reed would be named MVP with 21.7 points and 13.9 rebounds per game on 50.7% shooting overall. Then, it was off to the playoffs where Reed led the Knicks to wins over the Bullets and Bucks to advance to the NBA Finals against the Lakers.
In a thrilling seven-game series, Reed and the Knicks went back and forth with Los Angeles until a decisive Game 7 was to be played. After sitting out Game 6 with a torn quadricep, Reed returned in Game 7 to a standing ovation from the home crowd even if he wasn’t the same Reed they were used to sitting. The Knicks went on to win the game and their first NBA title. Reed was named Finals MVP with 23.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
Michael Jordan – 1996
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsNiCwlryIg
After Michael Jordan’s comeback was spoiled by the Orlando Magic in 1995, he came back with a vengeance in 1996. It all started with his All-Star Game MVP win in which he led the East to victory with 20 points and 4 rebounds on 8-11 shooting from the field. Jordan would continue on that season by leading the Bulls to a then-NBA record 72 wins to 10 losses, running away with MVP honors averaging 30.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.2 steals per game.
The Playoffs were a cinch for Chicago as they went 11-1 in their first three series which included a sweep of the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals. This set up a meeting with the stacked Seattle SuperSonics led by the duo of Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. The series would go to six games with the Bulls pulling away in the end for their fourth NBA championship and Michael Jordan’s fourth Finals MVP award.
Jordan earned the historic honors with 27.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.7 steals per game on 41.5% shooting from the floor.
Michael Jordan – 1998
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyKrpMnf0Tc
What had taken 26 years for a second player to accomplish in the first place, Michael Jordan was about to do for the second time in three years in 1998. In what had been rumored to be his final season in Chicago for some time, Jordan went nuclear once again with an All-Star MVP win. Jordan led the East to victory with 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists on 55.6% shooting for his third All-Star MVP award.
The regular season had its ups and downs for the Bulls but in the end, they were still among the best teams in the NBA. They finished the season with 62 wins and 20 losses with Jordan winning his fifth career MVP award, averaging 28.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game on 46.5% shooting.
The playoffs were a tough road to navigate as well as the Bulls went 7-1 in their first two series but needed all seven games to take down the Pacers and get back to the NBA Finals. In the Finals, Jordan and company met a familiar foe in the Utah Jazz. Much like 1997, the Bulls were able to finish off the Jazz in six games with Jordan winning his NBA record sixth Finals MVP award. He led the team to their second three-peat, averaging 33.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
Shaquille O’Neal – 2000
By the time the NBA turned the century in 2000, Los Angeles Lakers big man Shaquille O’Neal was already the most dominant player in the game. His historic 2000 season was about to cement it. It started with an All-Star MVP as O’Neal led the West to a 137-126 win over the East. O’Neal was named a co-MVP with Spurs big man Tim Duncan, contributing 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks to the show.
In the regular season, O’Neal was much more dominant, winning the scoring title and MVP award outright. Shaq averaged 29.7 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game while leading the NBA in field goal percentage at 57.4%. O’Neal’s dominance not only earned him his first and only MVP but his team would win 67 games and steamroll their way toward the NBA playoffs.
In the playoffs, the Lakers would go 11-5 over their first three series to advance to the NBA Finals to play the Indiana Pacers. Despite their best efforts, the Pacers had zero answers for O’Neal who dominated Indiana for Finals MVP honors with 38.0 points, 16.7 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game.
Who Came The Closest?
In NBA history, there have been a handful of times that a player fell just short of winning one of these awards during a specific season. Below are 10 instances, ranging from as recent as 2022 to as far back as 1971, in which a star player nearly made history and won All-Star MVP, MVP, an NBA championship, and a Finals MVP.
Stephen Curry In 2022 (All-Star MVP, Regular Season MVP, Finals MVP, NBA Championship)
As recently as 2022 we had a player within striking distance of this historic achievement. Stephen Curry was able to take home the All-Star Game MVP with a scintillating shooting display. A few months later, he led the Warriors to their fourth NBA title in eight seasons and claimed his first Finals MVP award in his career. Unfortunately, he didn’t do enough to capture the MVP award, finishing eighth in the voting.
Giannis Antetokounmpo In 2021 (All-Star MVP, Regular Season MVP, Finals MVP, And An NBA Championship)
Giannis Antetokounmpo unfortunately had the same misfortune in 2021. Giannis was able to secure an All-Star MVP that season while later on leading the Bucks to their first NBA title since 1971. He secured Finals MVP honors as well with 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game. Unfortunately, Giannis would finish fourth in MVP voting that season, just missing out on history in the process.
LeBron James In 2012 And 2013 (All-Star MVP, Regular Season MVP, Finals MVP, And An NBA Championship)
In back-to-back seasons in 2012 and 2013, LeBron James lost out on history in a similar fashion. With James at his peak, the Miami Heat were unstoppable during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. James was named back-to-back MVP during these seasons and simultaneously, he led them to NBA championships while being named Finals MVP both times. Unfortunately, the All-Star Game MVP was not in the cards for him during those years, losing out to Kevin Durant in 2012 and Chris Paul in 2013.
Kobe Bryant In 2009 (All-Star MVP, Regular Season MVP, Finals MVP, And An NBA Championship)
Kobe Bryant experienced what it was like to just miss out on history in 2009 as well. Things started great for him with an All-Star Game MVP win during the 2009 season. Unfortunately for him, he would finish third in MVP voting behind LeBron James and Kevin Durant. As payback, Bryant would lead the Lakers to their first NBA title since 2002 and claimed Finals MVP honors in dominant fashion over the Orlando Magic.
Tim Duncan In 2003 (All-Star MVP, Regular Season MVP, Finals MVP, And An NBA Championship)
The 2002-03 season was a special one for Tim Duncan and the Spurs. Duncan would claim MVP honors that year averaging 23.3 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game. Then, he would lead the Spurs through the playoffs to a Finals win over the Nets, claiming Finals MVP honors with 24.2 points, 17.0 rebounds, and 5.3 blocks per game. All he was missing was the All-Star Game MVP to go with it which went to Kevin Garnett instead.
Larry Bird In 1984 And 1986 (All-Star MVP, Regular Season MVP, Finals MVP, And An NBA Championship)
From 1984 through 1986, Larry Bird was easily the best player in basketball, winning three straight MVP awards while also leading the Celtics to NBA Championships in 1984 and 1986. Bird’s tear during the mid-1980s was incredible as he claimed both Finals MVP awards in 1984 against the Lakers and 1986 against the Rockets. For Bird, it was one man who stopped him from entering the history books with All-Star Game MVP wins in 1984 and 1986, and that man was none other than Isiah Thomas of the Detroit Pistons who won both times.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar In 1971 (All-Star MVP, Regular Season MVP, Finals MVP, And An NBA Championship)
Even though the 1970-71 season was only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s second in the NBA, it was a historic run for the legendary 7-footer. Kareem would win the regular season MVP award with 31.7 points and 16.0 rebounds per game as he led the Milwaukee Bucks to a 66-16 record. In the NBA Finals, he led the Bucks to their first NBA title ever and claimed Finals MVP honors with 27.0 points and 18.5 rebounds per game. Kareem lost out on All-Star MVP honors that season to Lenny Wilkens despite having 19 points and 14 rebounds himself in the contest.
