Top 10 NBA Individual Playoff Runs That Led to Finals MVP

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

If we go by win shares there have been only 10 times an individual performer in the complete postseason and including only an NBA Finals MVP, has attained a win share total of 4.2 or above. The way win shares are determined is through a complex formula or three. Essentially, the main components of these formulas are:

1. The points produced for each player.

2. Offensive possessions for each player.

3. Marginal offense for each player.

4. Marginal points per win. Credit Offensive Win Shares to the players.

According to Basketball Reference's all-time Finals win share leaderboard these are those 10 times. A few times a player had higher than a 4.2 but their team lost the series so I excluded them. A few examples are Dirk Nowitzki in 2006, Jabbar in 1974 and West in 1969.

Here is the top 10:

10. Larry Bird 1986 vs. Houston: 4.2 Win Share

His playoffs win share of 4.2 is No. 10 of all time for his 1986 exploits. The Celtics defeated the Rockets four games to two as the Celtics dominated the first two games at home where they had gone 40-1 in the regular season. In Game 3 the Rockets won. In Game 4 Bird was the man and he had help from Walton. In Game 5 Ralph Sampson started a fight with a Celtic player and yet the Rockets won. Yet in Game 6 Bird and the Celtics won as the crowd booed Sampson every time he got the ball.

This was the season that Jordan scored 49 and then 63 on the Celtics in Round 1 versus the Celtics, setting an all-time scoring record but Bird and his troops won out in the end, just like they had in the Finals.

Bird was named Finals MVP.

9. George Mikan vs. Wash. Capitols 1949: 4.2 Win Share

Mikan led the Minneapolis Lakers to the top of the heap in 1949 as his team defeated the Washington Capitols. Mikan led the way in total points in the playoffs and he rebounded like a mad man and blocked shots. At 6'10" he was the first dominant center, and to this day his performance in the BAA (early NBA) playoffs has been surpassed only eight other times.

8. Hakeem Olajuwon vs. NY 1994: 4.3 Win Share

Getty Images/Getty Images

This post-Jordan era Finals win went seven games but in the end Houston beat NY. Olajuwon was great all playoffs long especially in Fnals Game 6. Olajuwon scored 30 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked four shots. In this series he never played under 40 minutes and never scored less than 21 points.

Olajuwon beat Ewing but the Finals loss cannot be blamed on Patrick. Other, lesser stars failed in the end.

7. Chauncey Billups vs. LA 2004: 4.6 Win Share

Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images

Chauncey was named Finals MVP as a team of misfits and defensive minded players pulled off what I feel is the greatest Finals upset ever. The mighty Lakers had not only their go to guy Shaq but they had his sidekick Kobe and they added HOFers Gary Payton and Karl Malone. Billups wasn't really a star per se but neither were his teammates Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, Richard Hamilton and Corliss Williamson.

Billups led the point by hitting 29/57 shots from the field, which included 8/17 threes and he added 39/43 free throws. He added 26 assists in the five game affair. In all, throughout the playoffs Billups achieved a 4.6 winshare.

Shaq, Kobe, Malone and Payton lost? I will forever be baffled by that.

6. 2000: Shaquille O'Neal 2000 vs. Indiana: 4.7 Win Share

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Shaq was merciless in 2000, 2001 and 2002: hence, his three Finals MVP awards. In this one, however, he was responsible for the playoff wins more than the other team playoff runs. This was just Shaq being Shaq at his peak.

He was unstoppable: 43,40,33, 36, 35, 41. Those were his point totals from Game 1 through Game 6 of the Finals. He added 19-plus rebounds three times in the series. This was Shaq's team.

5. Larry Bird 1984 vs. LA: 4.7 Win Share

Many feel Bird's (and Boston's) greatest post season was 1986 but in 1984 he saved his personal best presence for the team. Bird was Bird at his best. He shot well, took on all comers and ultimately forced the team to win over a more athletic Lakers team.

4. Michael Jordan vs. Seattle 1996: 4.7 Win Share

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Coming off the greatest regular season record ever (72-10), MJ led his team to a title. He was Finals MVP for the fourth time in 1996.

3. Michael Jordan vs. Utah 1998: 4.8 Win Share

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

In the playoffs Michael dominated the action from the start of the Finals against a tougher team than many give them credit for: the Utah Jazz. He scored 45 in the closing Game 6 and was named NBA Finals MVP.

He is still the oldest NBA MVP ever at 35. Also, he is the oldest player to ever to lead the league in scoring. That rascally MJ.

2. Michael Jordan vs. LA 1991: 4.8 Win Share

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

In the 1991 post season Jordan proved to himself and the world that he was the best by playing Magic's game and then some. MJordan averaged over 11 assists per game and over 30 points in this Finals. He was a first time NBA Finals MVP.

1. Tim Duncan vs. NJ 2003: 5.9 Win Share

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

This is by far the highest win share score for a the playoffs of a Finals winner ever.

Duncan led the Spurs past three time defending champs LA and then in the Finals he meant everything to his team's win column. He averaged 17 rebounds, 5.3 assists, one steal and 5.3 blocks and 24.7 ppg. in this awesome personal series.