What is the Finals MVP Trophy Called? Why is Finals MVP Trophy named after Bill Russell?

“It’s ain’t over ‘til it’s over.” That may not be the case but the Dallas Mavericks are down 0-3 to the Boston Celtics and face a challenge that has never been done in the history of the league. While the series might be all but in the books, the next game, or two, or three, or even four will give us a better idea of who is going to win the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP award.

Russell never won an MVP

The MVP award has been around since 1969, but has gone through various makeovers, both in aesthetics and in it’s name. The trophy used to be a black trophy with a gold basketball on top of it until the league replaced the trophy with the one we have come to know over the last two decades. It’s all gold with a basketball up top and a hoop down low. You might remember Nikola Jokic hoisting last year after the Denver Nuggets beat the Miami Heat in Game 5.

The award is named after Russell even though he never actually won the award. His last season in the NBA was the first season that the Finals MVP award was handed out. Russell and the Celtics may have won the title in a seven game series over the Los Angeles Lakers, but the award went to Jerry West. Russell would retire that offseason after winning his record 11th NBA title. Had there been an MVP award for the Finals while he was winning most of those championships he would have, without question, been the most decorated Finals MVP winner.

Brown the favorite to win it this year

The Bill Russell Trophy is given to the player who has the most outstanding championship series, and a panel of 11 media members are in charge of voting for the MVP at the end of the Finals. Two of the greatest players of all time head the list for most MVP’s of the Finals. Michael Jordan won the award in all six of his title winning seasons, while LeBron James was named MVP in four of the Finals that he won. Magic Johnson, Tim Duncan and Shaquille O’Neal have won it three times, but Shaq and Jordan are the only players to have ever been named Finals MVP three straight years.

This year the Finals MVP looks to be a two horse race. With the Celtics in complete command of the Dallas Mavericks through three games it’s looking like Jaylen Brown (-250 according to BetMGM) is the favorite to be named the Finals MVP, but Jayson Tatum is right on his heels (+200 according to BetMGM).

Both of the Boston stars might only get one more shot at impressing the 11 voters who will select the MVP of the series. The Celtics have the Dallas Mavericks on the ropes and can land the knockout blow on Friday from the American Airlines Center.