Spurs' Tim Duncan Trying to Become 2nd Player with at Least 4 NBA Finals MVPs
San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan enters this year's NBA Finals against the Miami Heat attempting to join Hall of Famer Michael Jordan as the only players in league history to win the Finals Most Valuable Player award four times, per ESPN Stats & Info.
Duncan won the award in 1999 when the Spurs defeated the New York Knicks, in 2003 when they beat the New Jersey Nets and again in 2005 in a win over the Detroit Pistons. Duncan is the second player in NBA history to win the award in each of his first three trips to the Finals, following Jordan's record of six Finals MVPs in his six trips to the championship round.
There are also only four players in league history to win the Finals MVP at least three times, with Duncan and Jordan being joined by Magic Johnson and Shaquille O'Neal in that regard.
Duncan is the all-time leader in postseason minutes played (8,736) and blocked shots (541), while ranking fifth in points scored and third in rebounds.
The San Antonio big man has won four rings in his storied career, the last coming against the Cleveland Cavaliers—led by current Miami Heat superstar LeBron James—in 2007, when Tony Parker won MVP. Duncan will now face off against James for a second consecutive year, as James searches for both his third championship and third Finals MVP award.
