MVP to be Decided AFTER the Playoffs ... Revisionist History

[The_Trade_Seer]

NBA Commish David Stern recently said the league might consider awarding the overall MVP after the completion of the playoffs. “It’s an idea that should get some traction,” Stern said. In other words, no more Derrick Rose-LeBron fiascos.

That is a GREAT idea and I think it's time to do a little revisionist history, shall we:

YEAR MVP MVP UNDER NEW RULES
2010-11 Derrick Rose Lebron James
2009-10 LeBron James Kobe Bryant
2008-09 LeBron James Kobe Bryant
2007-08 Kobe Bryant Kobe Bryant
2006-07 Dirk Nowitzki Lebron James
2005-06 Steve Nash Shaquille O'Neal
2004-05 Steve Nash Tim Duncan
2003-04 Kevin Garnett Kevin Garnett
2002-03 Tim Duncan Tim Duncan
2001-02 Tim Duncan Shaquille O'Neal & Kobe Bryant
2000-01 Allen Iverson Shaquille O'Neal & Kobe Bryant
1999-00 Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille O'Neal
1998-99 Karl Malone Tim Duncan
1997-98 Michael Jordan Michael Jordan
1996-97 Karl Malone Michael Jordan
1995-96 Michael Jordan Michael Jordan
1994-95 David Robinson Hakeem Olajuwon
1993-94 Hakeem Olajuwon Hakeem Olajuwon
1992-93 Charles Barkley Michael Jordan
1991-92 Michael Jordan Michael Jordan
1990-91 Michael Jordan Michael Jordan
1989-90 Magic Johnson Isaih Thomas
1988-89 Magic Johnson Magic Johnson
1987-88 Michael Jordan Magic Johnson
1986-87 Magic Johnson Magic Johnson
1985-86 Larry Bird Larry Bird
1984-85 Larry Bird Magic Johnson
1983-84 Larry Bird Larry Bird
1982-83 Moses Malone Moses Malone
1981-82 Moses Malone Moses Malone & Magic Johnson
1980-81 Julius Erving Moses Malone & Larry Bird
1979-80 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar KAJ
1978-79 Moses Malone Moses Malone
1977-78 Bill Walton Elvin Hayes
1976-77 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar KAJ & Bill Walton
1975-76 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar KAJ
1974-75 Bob McAdoo Bob McAdoo & Rick Barry
1973-74 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar KAJ
1972-73 Dave Cowens Walt Frazier
1971-72 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar KAJ & Wilt Chamberlain
1970-71 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar KAJ


That is an interesting list and something to really consider. Kareem and Jordan would still have 6 MVP'S, while Magic would still have 5 and Bird 3 MVP'S. However Moses Malone and Shaq would now each have 4 MVP'S and players such as Allen Iverson, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone and especially Steve Nash would have none. Kobe Bryant would have a whopping 5 MVP'S while deserving players such as Rick Barry and Isaih Thomas would have one.

Note4: I have no idea why the above list looks so cramped on RealGm ... when I edit it, it looks perfect with great spacing? Ah well ... enjoy everyone

[chefy]

actually the rule would favor lebron and wade more

[The_Trade_Seer]

Yes, Lebron would be winning MVP this year but Wade still would not have one as while he may have won Finals MVP back in the day, that was Shaq's team and Shaq finished 2nd in MVP voting that year and then won a title while the actual MVP, Steve Nash flamed out in the playoffs.

[Shamizy]

Well then, what's the point of having a Finals MVP then? Often times, that player ends up being the reason his team did so well in the regular season as well. It's an awful idea.

What did LeBron do this season to deserve MVP? Did his team have a better record than last year? Did they vault from 8th seed to the best overall record in the league? Derrick Rose was more than deserving of regular season MVP. The postseason has no impact on that.

[dockingsched]

i'd probably still give lebron james his two mvp's.

[dockingsched]

Well then, what's the point of having a Finals MVP then? Often times, that player ends up being the reason his team did so well in the regular season as well. It's an awful idea.

What did LeBron do this season to deserve MVP? Did his team have a better record than last year? Did they vault from 8th seed to the best overall record in the league? Derrick Rose was more than deserving of regular season MVP. The postseason has no impact on that.

i'm not sure you read the OP, the entire point was to take the post season into account.

[Shamizy]

Oh, I missed that. My bad. Then what happens to all the Finals MVP awards of the past? People years from now are going to wonder what the hell that was all about.

Seems kind of late to consider this after 40 years.

[chefy]

nope I was replying to this "In other words, no more Derrick Rose-LeBron fiascos."

usually mvps nowadays are awarded to the best player of the best team. when lebron joined the heat, his chances of winning another mvp pretty much disappeared. if the rule is implemented it would be "the best player whose team got deep into the playoffs" the award would now be for players whose teams reach the conference finals. and i think we all know, its pretty obvious which team would be dominating the eastern conference playoffs for the next 3-4 years.


imo this is just stern's way of putting back lebron and wade to the mvp award discussion.

[Shamizy]

It just seems real sketchy to me that Stern would even consider making this change at this particular time. I mean, what's the big deal?

Then again, this is the same turd who wants to give us a lockout next season for no good reason.

[The_Trade_Seer]

I think it's a great idea as a "season" includes the first 82 games and the playoffs. I think it's idiotic to have two MVP's every year, one for the so-called "regular season" and then one for one round of a four round playoff season.

I would also be fine with their being a regular season and post-season MVP, similar to the NCAA but this "Finals MVP" award is just stupid as it's only 1 series out of 4 post-season series. Goodness sakes, this is how guys like Cedric Maxwell and Dennis Johnson have an MVP Award, it's ridiculous.

Having a season MVP named after the playoffs makes all the sense in the world and I don't agree that it will automatically go to a guy on the team that wins the title. If next year the Heat have an off-regular season with some injuries and get into the playoffs and win the title as a #4 seed while their Big 3 all play equally well and there is a guy named Kevin Durant over in Oklahoma that just happens to drop 35ppg and average 8 rebounds per game and also starts playing defense while leading his team to a LOSS in the playoffs against the Lakers ... Durant would win the MVP.

Or imagine a team like the Spurs wins it all next year while playing the consumate team ball and having no true leader and LBJ averages a triple double next season but the Heat miss out on the Finals ... LBJ would win the award.

BUT ... if Lebron has a slights better regular season than Kobe next year and they meet in the Finals and the Lakers win it all ... Kobe would win MVP ... that is fair and that is what the trophy should mean, the MOST VALUABLE PLAYER for the ENTIRE season, not just a portion of it.

[gus26]

i think the best way to still let the media vote for mvp... and get their fix for what has turned into a popularty contest... is like this

regular season MVP goes to best player on team with best record... END OF STORY... obviously there would be some sort of tie breaker system in place just like for playoff home court advantage..

Finals MVP goes to best player on WINNING team... The finals MVP shouldn't just take into account that one round but all rounds leading up to the finals... you can't play in the finals if you didn't play 3 other rounds so that has to be taken into account... if you don't make it to the end then you shouldn't be rewarded... END OF STORY...

let the media pick who the best player on that team is... all the weird votes go out the window... and the awards are more cut and dry... NO controversy...

[MoLakers]

i was watching this question asked on nbatv by jemele hill and stern sorta paused as if he had heard something absurd.. and gave universal answer of.. we can look at it in the offseason. as far as i can tell.. this idea has no wheels.

[chefy]

every awarding system has its flaws. it is just up to the fans or players which they would value the most.

getting a chip and getting the finals mvp? or having a beastly season and winning the rs mvp, but getting bounced out in the 1st/2nd rd of the playoffs?

averaging 35ppg, 8 rebs, etc. and then losing in the first round in the playoffs, and still getting an MVP AWARD?...

for me that is way more ridiculous than a player receiving an mvp, for playing well for an entire series that helped his team get a championship. like I said every award system would have some flaws.

[The_Trade_Seer]

every awarding system has its flaws. it is just up to the fans or players which they would value the most.

True.

getting a chip and getting the finals mvp? or having a beastly season and winning the rs mvp, but getting bounced out in the 1st/2nd rd of the playoffs?

The reg season MVP is much more impressive ... you don't think Dennis Johnson had a better career or was a better player than Charles Barkley do you?

averaging 35ppg, 8 rebs, etc. and then losing in the first round in the playoffs, and still getting an MVP AWARD?...for me that is way more ridiculous than a player receiving an mvp, for playing well for an entire series that helped his team get a championship.

I hope you're joking. You value some dude playing good on a great team for 4 games but know a guy dominating over an 82 game schedule? I really hope you're joking.

[Gek]

How was that list determined?


Also just because someone is the Finals MVP doesn't mean they're the overall MVP imo.

[Leor_77]

I agree, and talked about it before on this board - Kobe played great during his past two championships. Some would argue that he was jobbed of some MVP's when you take into account regular season + post-season play.

[3-Pt_Shooter]

I also agree, it would probably be best to use a player's regular season performance... as well as (at least) his team's playoff run to determine a real MVP in the NBA.

This year, I'd easily give it to Dirk (especially if the Mavs go ahead and pull this thing off).

[The_Trade_Seer]

^ Dirk or Lebron depending who wins the ring, definitely NOT Rose.