Since the 1969 Finals, we have seen a Finals MVP every year. Continuing our series of Finals MVP winners per position, it is time to uncover which power forwards managed to win the Finals MVP award. It is amazing to consider that only three power forwards in NBA history managed to win the coveted individual award, meaning it is very rare that a power forward gets over the hump to lead a team to a championship. Throughout history, the Finals MVP winners have either been massive centers or perimeter players.
- 1998-99 Finals MVP – Tim Duncan
- 2002-03 Finals MVP – Tim Duncan
- 2004-05 Finals MVP – Tim Duncan
- 2010-11 Finals MVP – Dirk Nowitzki
- 2020-21 Finals MVP – Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Next
- NBA Small Forwards Who Won The Finals MVP Award: LeBron James Has Won 4, Larry Bird Won 2
- Only 6 NBA Point Guards Have Won The Finals MVP Award: Stephen Curry Finally Joins The List
- Only 6 Shooting Guards Have Won The NBA Finals MVP Award: Michael Jordan Won 6 Awards, Kobe Bryant Was The Latest One In 2010
- 10 Youngest NBA Players To Win The Finals MVP Award: Magic Johnson Was A 20-Year-Old Rookie When He Won The Award
- Tim Duncan’s Stats For Each Season: The Greatest Power Forward In NBA History
In today’s game, power forwards have proven to be the most effective players in the game, mainly because of their size and skill sets. A superstar power forward is large enough to have a physical impact on the game while remaining mobile enough to handle the ball, score, and play defense. Power forwards in the modern era are also required to space the floor alongside a center, and defensive versatility is key when it comes to guarding multiple positions and doing multiple things on the court.
Looking back at the very start of the NBA until the end of the 2022 season, here are the Finals MVP winners at the power forward position. Only one name will appear more than once, and two other players managed to take their teams to an entirely different level by dominating the court during the NBA Finals in a particular year. Without further ado, here is every Finals MVP award winner at the power forward spot in NBA history.
1998-99 Finals MVP – Tim Duncan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mmk0HUlgQBE
Finals Statistics: 27.4 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.2 BPG
Tim Duncan, an absolute superstar of a power forward, had to assert his talent and supremacy in the NBA after Michael Jordan retired for a second time. The Big Fundamental succeeded in unseating the great David Robinson as the Spurs’ finest player, and he was given the know-how to dominate the postseason. He clearly exceeded expectations by averaging 27.4 PPG and 14.0 RPG to lead the Spurs to the Finals victory.
Duncan was, without a doubt, the best player in the Finals, producing an absurd double-double while also being the most important defensive enforcer on the court. With Duncan ending the series as the series’ top scorer twice and the series’ top rebounder three times, the Spurs defeated the New York Knicks in five games.
It’s incredible that The Big Fundamental, who replaced David Robinson as the standout player on his own team, was just 23 years old when he won his first championship and Finals MVP. Throughout his career, Tim Duncan would win three Finals MVP awards and five NBA championships, but the first came in the 1999 NBA Finals.
2002-03 Finals MVP – Tim Duncan
Finals Statistics: 24.2 PPG, 17.0 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 5.3 BPG
The wins kept coming in as the Spurs big man’s excellent two-way play persisted, giving the impression that Tim Duncan was becoming better every season. The superstar scored 24.2 points per game and grabbed 17.0 rebounds per game while shooting 49.5 percent from the field a few years after winning his first Finals MVP award in 1999. These are incredible stats for a big forward who also had a significant defensive obligation for the San Antonio Spurs.
In the Finals, Duncan was prepared for every challenge he faced against the talented New Jersey Nets team. In the series, the big man had the most points, rebounds, blocks, and victory shares of any player. Briefly, The Big Fundamental dominated the Finals series, and the numbers show for it across the board and also when reviewing the tape of the exciting matchup nearly 20 years ago.
As soon as Tim Duncan won his second championship and was named Finals MVP, he started asserting his position as one of the greatest power forwards of all time. Obviously, he would eventually get there with three more championships on the road, but Timmy was so outstanding that it was amazing to see comparisons to Karl Malone begin as early as the 2003 season. It would not be long before Duncan would completely usurp The Mailman once and for all, as his third Finals MVP award came two seasons later.
2004-05 Finals MVP – Tim Duncan
Finals Statistics: 20.6 PPG, 14.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.4 SPG, 2.1 BPG
The storied San Antonio Spurs legend won the Finals MVP title once more following the 2005 NBA Finals, posting incredible two-way numbers and inspiring his team to an exciting triumph in a seven-game series against the Detroit Pistons. Tim Duncan would actually serve as the Spurs’ lynchpin in their pursuit of yet another championship. Although Duncan’s statistics were not as impressive as those from his previous Finals series, he was still a force on the court against a Pistons squad that was determined to swarm the Spurs players and not give up easy shots.
The Big Fundamental excelled on the other end, outplaying players like Chauncey Billups, Richard “Rip” Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace, and Ben Wallace while leading his squad in points, rebounds, and blocks. Particularly, being able to watch Duncan compete against people like Rasheed and Ben Wallace in face-offs was the most thrilling part of the series. With Duncan leading the team in scoring with 25 points in the decisive Game 7, the Spurs defeated the Pistons 81-74.
Tim Duncan now had 3 Finals MVP awards and 3 NBA championships, an alarming achievement for a player who was by himself when it came to being the most dominant power forward in NBA history. Karl Malone had the scoring statistics, but he did not have the defensive capabilities of Duncan nor the championship success, which ultimately gave The Big Fundamental an edge in the all-time rankings. Of course, Duncan is the leading power forward with the most Finals MVP awards won in NBA history, as he is the only player with more than one of that award.
2010-11 Finals MVP – Dirk Nowitzki
Finals Statistics: 26.0 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.7 BPG
The Finals MVP award given to Dirk Nowitzki at the conclusion of the 2011 season was the cherry on top of one of the greatest individual seasons in history. Since the Mavericks’ elimination in the 2006 Finals, Dirk and the team had been seeking retribution, and the 2011 Finals presented them with an opportunity to do so.
Unfortunately, the Mavericks had to face a Miami Heat superteam that was even more talented than their foe from six years prior. In their first season as a team, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh made up the 2011 Heat. As the sole superstar on his squad, it was up to Dirk to beat the odds and win the game for his team.
Nowitzki dropped 26.0 PPG, 9.7 RPG, and 2.0 APG on an incredible 97.8% free-throw shooting. The German was constantly fouled to stop him from taking over, but it clearly did not work. Thanks to Nowitzki’s efficiency and leadership, the Mavericks exacted revenge, and the German earned his only Finals MVP award. No doubt, this was the crowning achievement of Dirk’s career because the 2006 Finals loss weighed heavy on his (and the Mavericks) mind. With the championship secured, Dirk’s standing as a top-35 player of all time was also secure.
2020-21 Finals MVP – Giannis Antetokounmpo
Finals Statistics: 35.2 PPG, 13.2 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.8 BPG
Giannis Antetokounmpo had one of the greatest closeout games in NBA Finals history, dropping 50 points in a critical Game 6, which saw the Milwaukee Bucks defeat the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 NBA Finals. The Greek Freak was incredibly dominant in that game, going 16-25 from the field and 17-19 from the free-throw line despite being a career 71.8% shooter from the stripe. The power forward also led all players with 14 rebounds in the closeout game, and that essentially confirmed the Greek-born star was going to win Finals MVP.
But throughout the Finals, Giannis was incredibly dominant. He averaged 35.2 PPG and 13.2 RPG, completely dominating a relatively inexperienced Phoenix Suns team that was led by a rookie head coach. Head coach Monty Williams decided to place young center Deandre Ayton on Giannis throughout the series, and the center lacked the speed and experience to handle a two-time MVP. That ultimately proved the difference in the 2021 Finals.
But credit goes to Giannis Antetokounmpo for showing up for the Bucks, owning the Finals, and easily earning his first Finals MVP award. The power forward also shot 61.8% from the floor, essentially meaning that he got whatever he wanted at the rim and feasted like other all-time great bigs who won championships. So far, Giannis has one Finals MVP award to his name, and he could add a few more to his resume before he hangs it up.
