8 NBA MVPs who won a championship after getting traded

#5 Moses Malone

Moses Malone looks on during Media Day for the All-Star Game.

Moses Malone had a short stint with the Buffalo Braves to start his NBA career and then went on to win two NBA MVPs with the Houston Rockets, while also appearing in the 1981 NBA Finals.

After winning the 1981-82 NBA MVP, Houston traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers, and he'd immediately deliver a title to the Sixers and win another MVP and Finals MVP.

Malone is the only player in NBA history to win consecutive MVPs with different teams, and the big man should be mentioned a lot more when discussing the greatest big men ever.

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#6 Bill Walton

NBA Finals Game 2: Boston Celtics v Los Angeles Lakers.

Bill Walton's career was mostly defined by injuries that did not allow him to reach his full potential. Still, he was able to find success and glory with the Portland Trail Blazers early, winning an NBA title in his third year in the league, along with Finals MVP, and a regular-season MVP in his fourth year.

After missing his entire fifth season with a foot injury, Walton signed with the San Diego Clippers for the 1979-80 season. However, foot injuries hindered him again, and he played only 14 games between the 1978-79 and 1981-82 seasons.

The Clippers traded him to the Boston Celtics before the 1985-86 season. Walton became a member of one of the best teams in NBA history and won his second title.

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#7 Shaquille O'Neal

2019 NBA Awards Presented By Kia On TNT - Inside

Shaquille O'Neal changed teams after the first four seasons of his career, but before winning three NBA championships, a regular-season MVP, and three Finals MVPs with the LA Lakers, he had signed with the team as a free agent.

However, before winning his fourth and final NBA title with the Miami Heat, the 1999-00 NBA MVP winner was traded from LA to South Beach for three players, a first-round pick and a second-round pick.

In his second year with Miami, O'Neal won the NBA championship alongside Dwyane Wade and veterans Gary Payton, Jason Williams and Alonzo Mourning. He was then traded from Miami to the Phoenix Suns and from Phoenix to the Cleveland Cavaliers near the end of his career.

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#8 Kevin Garnett

Garnett with the Boston Celtics in 2012.

Kevin Garnett was the most recent NBA MVP award winner to be traded and win an NBA championship afterward. 'The Big Ticket' won the only MVP of his illustrious career in the 2003-04 NBA season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, after averaging 24 points, 13.9 rebounds, five assists, 1.5 steals, and 2.2 blocks per game.

Garnett was eventually traded to the Boston Celtics to form a 'Big Three' of veteran stars with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Together, the trio won the NBA title in their first year together and then played in another edition of the NBA Finals two years later.

At Boston, Garnett won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. He was then traded to the Brooklyn Nets and later returned to the T-Wolves via trade.

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