Thursday, June 7, 2012

NBA MVPs Usually Win NBA Titles

The NBA has given out an end of year MVP award since the 1955-56 season.  Here is the complete list of MVPs who have NOT won the title in their career.

Charles Barkley (1993)
Karl Malone (1997, 1999)
Allen Iverson (2001)
Steve Nash (2004, 2005)
LeBron James (2009, 2010, 2012)
Derrick Rose (2011)

Small list considering they've given out more than 50 MVPs.  You've all heard the fact by now that LeBron is the only 3-time MVP winner in any of the major sports to not win a championship.  Not sure if that's ground breaking, how many 3-time MVPs are there?  And it would be a bigger deal if his career was over.

Quick observations looking at that list.  3 of the 6 are done (yes A.I., you are done).  So only Charles, The Mailman, and The Answer will definitely remain on this list.  Nash is closing in on the end, but he's a free agent, could he join the Heat or some other team with a shot at the title next year?  Of course he could.  Rose is like 24 years old, so his inclusion means nothing.  It is all about LeBron, but at 27 years old, we probably shouldn't get crazy about it.

Also Barkley, Malone (twice), Iverson, and LeBron (twice and counting) have at least PLAYED in the FINALS.  Nash has only gone as far as the Conference Finals, same can be said about Rose, who again is insanely young. 

I looked all this stuff up while killing time at the Garden waiting for Game 6 of the East Finals between the Celtics and Heat.  Lot on the line tonight!

-Keefe

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