NBA: the first two in MVP vote that were measured in playoffs
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic are likely to end up in the first two in the MVP vote this season.
The semifinals of the West Conference between the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder are A confrontation between the probable MVP of the NBA of 2025 and the second place: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic.
Gilgeous-Alexander He averaged 32.7 points, 6.4 assists and 5.0 rebounds in the regular season, which contributed to the trajectory of Oklahoma City towards a 68-14 record, the best in the league.
JokicThree times winner of the most valuable player award (MVP), he had one of his best statistically seasons, the third player in history to average a triple-double. His 29.6 points and 10.2 assists per game were the best averages of his career. He also averaged 12.7 rebounds, the second largest amount of his career.
It is the eighth time since 1990 that the first two in the vote to the MVP face in a playoff series. Five of those meetings have been in the NBA endsand four of them included Michael Jordan. The team with the MVP winner was crowned five times.
Next, a review of each series of NBA playoffs since 1990 that included the first two in the vote to the MVP.
MVP: Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
Second place: Harden, Houston Rockets
Series result: Rockets won 4-1
Westbrookthe last player of Thunder to win the most valuable player award before Gilgeous-Alexanderaveraged a triple-double in the regular season on the way to the award. Harden He also had a stellar year, with 29.1 points, 11.2 assists and 8.1 rebounds per game.
The former companions faced in the first round of that postseason, and the RocketsSerial heads number 3, won in five games.
Westbrook He averaged the impressive figure of 37.4 points, 11.6 rebounds and 10.8 assists. Harden He averaged 33.2 points per game, which marks the second time that a second place for the MVP defeats the MVP in a series since 1990.
MVP: Curry, Golden State Warriors
Second place: Harden, Rockets
Series result: Warriors won 4-1
Curry surpassed a Harden Not only to win the MVP, but also to get a position in the 2015 NBA finals, where the first two series heads of the West Conference faced.
When getting the first MVP of your career, Curry He averaged 23.8 points and 7.7 assists in the regular season, including 286 triples, the largest amount of the league. Harden He enjoyed an ascent campaign with 27.4 points per game, the best mark of his career at that time.
The Warriorswith 67 victories, they opened a 3-0 advantage in the series against the Rocketsfinally winning in five games. Curry and Harden They scored 40 points each in a game: 40 for Curry In game 3 and 45 for Harden In game 4.
MVP: James, Miami Heat
Second place: Durant, Thunder
Series result: Heat won 4-1
The third MVP in four seasons for James He arrived with a characteristic style, averaging 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists. Durant He maintained his level with 28.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, but only received 24 votes for the first place, compared to the 85 of James.
Facing in the NBA finals of 2012, both faced each other in a at odds. After the victory of Thunder In game 1, Durant and James They scored 32 points each in the second, which won the Heat. Durant averaged just over 30 points in the series, while James He averaged 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and 7.4 assists.
To date, this is the last time a winner and a second place on the MVP faced themselves in the finals.
Michael Jordan vs. Karl Malone, 1998
MVP: Jordan, Chicago Bulls
Second place: Malone, Utah Jazz
Series result: Bulls won 4-2
Possibly one of the most emblematic series in the history of the NBA, the fifth campaign of Jordan As MVP catapulted him to his sixth championship. He averaged 28.7 points per game in the regular season, his lowest average in a full season since he was a rookie. Malone He averaged 27.0 points and 10.3 rebounds.
Jordan He won the MVP comfortably, with 1,084 total votes, compared to the 842 of Malone. He showed why he won during the finals against Malone and the Jazzscoring at least 30 points in four of six games. However, Malone He maintained his level with 25.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
In the decisive game 6, Jordan He scored 45 points and scored the basket of the advantage, crowning the second Chicago Tricampeonato in the decade.
Karl Malone vs. Michael Jordan, 1997
MVP: Malone, Jazz
Second place: Jordan, Bulls
Series result: Bulls won 4-2
Malone He won his first prize to the MVP in one of the most closed votes in the history of the League. The jazz star obtained 63 votes for first place and 986 total points, compared to 52 and 957 of Jordan.
Although Malone won the MVP, Jordan It rose with the most important trophy of that season: the Larry O’Brien. Averaged 32.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in the finals, while Malone He averaged 23.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.
Michael Jordan vs. Clyde Drexler, 1992
MVP: Jordan, Bulls
Second place: Drexler, Portland Trail Blazers
Series result: Bulls won 4-2
Jordan and Drexler They were often compared before the end of 1992, and the MVP race did nothing but envive the discussion. Jordan It was imposed comfortably, obtaining 900 votes, while Drexler obtained 561. The finals gave a similar result.
In game 1 of the finals, Jordan He shone with a 35 -point performance in the first half, which included the iconic “shrug” after scoring his sixth triple in the second quarter. Jordan He dominated the Trail Blazers, averaging 35.8 points, 6.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds. Drexler He averaged 24.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists.
Michael Jordan vs. Magic Johnson, 1991
MVP: Jordan, Bulls
Second place: Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers
Series result: Bulls won 4-1
The second of the five MVP awards of Jordan He was the first that coincided with a championship. His solid regular season included 31.5 points per game and obtained 891 of a maximum of 960 votes. The Lakers star, Johnsonaveraged 19.4 points and 12.5 assists.
Facing one of the most important NBA figures on the brightest stage, Jordan He raised his game to win a title. Averaged 31.2 points and 11.4 assists per party, and the Bulls They won the series in five games.
