NBA

Warriors Steph Curry named Western Conference Finals MVP in historic first

Having never won a Finals MVP award, there perhaps no better choice for the award than the star guard who’s leading his team back to the NBA Finals

Paul Rudder
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Having led his team back to the NBA Finals, Golden State’s star is quite frankly a fitting recipient for the award.

Steph Curry is the Western Conference Finals MVP

In a first for both the NBA and Stephen Curry himself, the league’s new Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP award was handed out for the first time and it was the Golden State Warriors’ star who received it. Curry spearheaded a 4-1 series win over the Dallas Mavericks an average of 23.4 points and 7.4 assists per game. The Warriors of course completed the job on Thursday night at home with a 120-110 victory over the Mavs.

With the win Golden State booked themselves a trip to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2019. Indeed, it is the culmination of what was a three year long period of rebuilding for the Warriors following the loss of Kevin Durant to free agency. In the first season without the big man the Warriors also had to contend with multiple injuries, eventually finishing with the worst record in the league. Then there was last season, which saw an improvement, but the Dubs still fell in the play-in round. That brings us to this moment, with lessons learned, an MVP player in the ranks and above all a healthy roster going into the Finals.

A first for Steph Curry

Though it may seem strange this is actually the first time that Curry who is a three time NBA champion has been selected as a post season MVP. To be frank its actually become something of a running joke given how long its been that Golden State’s star has never won the award. In 2015 it was Andre Iguodala who beat him to it and then again in 2017 and 2018 he was tipped to the podium by teammate Kevin Durant. With all that said, what once seemed inevitable and then later improbable has now become a firm reality, Steph Curry is the NBA’s Western Conference Finals MVP.

Can Steph Curry and the Warriors win it all again?

As they head back to the Finals, Curry and the Warriors will know that there are still two major trophies up for grabs. There is the one they have won three times already which will of course be the main focus and there is that seemingly elusive Finals MVP award. Where the Larry O’Brien trophy is concerned the Warriors will conquer either the Boston Celtics or Miami Heat to claim it. It’s true they have secured themselves home court advantage, but they as well as the fans will know all too well that at this stage there are no guarantees.

As for Curry’s quest for individual glory, there is one thing that will have to be considered whether the Warriors win or lose the championship series, the fact that though it was long assumed that he couldn’t lead the Warriors back to the Finals without Kevin Durant, he’s now done exactly that. If the Warriors can clinch a 4th title it will assuredly be because Steph Curry is a part of their set up so expect him to be among the names in contention for the MVP award when the dust settles. Perhaps the most dominant force in the Western Conference over the last decade, the star guard has finally been recognized the way he should be.

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