Bill Russell’s indelible impact on the NBA extends far beyond his 13-year playing career with the Celtics.
Russell, an 11-time NBA champion and the league’s first-ever Black head coach, is one of the game’s greatest players, ambassadors and a mentor for generations of players to come after him. Russell passed away in 2022, but his name lives on through the NBA Finals MVP Award.
Since 2009, the NBA Finals MVP Award has been named in Russell’s honor. Prior to his passing, it was an annual tradition for the Hall of Famer to be on hand when the Finals MVP was announced at the conclusion of the series. Russell was last on hand to give the award to Kawhi Leonard in 2019.
Here is more on why the NBA’s Finals MVP Award is named in Russell’s honor.
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Why is the NBA Finals MVP Award named after Bill Russell?
In 2009, then-NBA commissioner David Stern announced that the NBA Finals MVP Award would be named in Russell’s honor.
“Who better to name this prestigious award for than one of the greatest players of all time and the ultimate champion,” said Stern. “Bill inspired a generation not just of basketball fans but Americans everywhere. He is respected by colleagues, coaches, fans and his legacy clearly has withstood the test of time.”
Russell is considered the ultimate champion because he has the individual record for most championships with 11. While he won 11 titles, Russell was never named Finals MVP because the award was first given in 1969, the same year Russell won his final title.
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NBA Finals MVP Award winners
Here is the complete list of NBA Finals MVP Award winners. Michael Jordan is the all-time leader with six, followed by LeBron James, who has won the award four times. Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan have each won the award three times.
| Year | Player | Team |
| 2023 | Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets |
| 2022 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors |
| 2021 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2020 | LeBron James | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2019 | Kawhi Leonard | Toronto Raptors |
| 2018 | Kevin Durant | Golden State Warriors |
| 2017 | Kevin Durant | Golden State Warriors |
| 2016 | LeBron James | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2015 | Andre Iguodala | Golden State Warriors |
| 2014 | Kawhi Leonard | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2013 | LeBron James | Miami Heat |
| 2012 | LeBron James | Miami Heat |
| 2011 | Dirk Nowitzki | Dallas Mavericks |
| 2010 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2009 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2008 | Paul Pierce | Boston Celtics |
| 2007 | Tony Parker | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2006 | Dwyane Wade | Miami Heat |
| 2005 | Tim Duncan | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2004 | Chauncey Billups | Detroit Pistons |
| 2003 | Tim Duncan | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2002 | Shaquille O’Neal | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2001 | Shaquille O’Neal | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2000 | Shaquille O’Neal | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1999 | Tim Duncan | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1998 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1997 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1996 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1995 | Hakeem Olajuwon | Houston Rockets |
| 1994 | Hakeem Olajuwon | Houston Rockets |
| 1993 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1992 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1991 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1990 | Isiah Thomas | Detroit Pistons |
| 1989 | Joe Dumars | Detroit Pistons |
| 1988 | James Worthy | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1987 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1986 | Larry Bird | Boston Celtics |
| 1985 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1984 | Larry Bird | Boston Celtics |
| 1983 | Moses Malone | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1982 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1981 | Cedric Maxwell | Boston Celtics |
| 1980 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1979 | Dennis Johnson | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1978 | Wes Unseld | Washington Bullets |
| 1977 | Bill Walton | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1976 | Jo Jo White | Boston Celtics |
| 1975 | Rick Barry | Golden State Warriors |
| 1974 | John Havlicek | Boston Celtics |
| 1973 | Willis Reed | New York Knicks |
| 1972 | Wilt Chamberlain | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1971 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1970 | Willis Reed | New York Knicks |
| 1969 | Jerry West | Los Angeles Lakers |