Listing the only 4 big men to win NBA Finals MVP in the last 30 years

The NBA Finals MVP is one of the most prestigious awards a basketball player can lay his hands on.

The Bill Russell trophy is awarded to the best player of the NBA Finals and usually goes to a player of the winning team.

In the 2020-21 season, Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo won the prize as he led his side to a 4-2 series win over the Phoenix Suns.

The last 4 bigs to have won the NBA Finals MVP trophy in the last 3 decades

The NBA has evolved in recent times, as both forwards and guards are now considered to be more valuable than a big.

The league is moving to a small-ball approach, with only a few teams playing with two traditional bigs in the starting lineup at the same time.

It has clearly affected the Finals MVP award list as well, as there are only four power forward/centers who have won the accolade in the last 30 years.

#4 Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks - 2020/21 NBA Finals

Milwaukee Bucks Victory Parade & Rally

Giannis Antetokounmpo personified domination during his playoff run with the Milwaukee Bucks last season, making his presence felt on both ends of the floor.

He picked it up a notch in the Finals, sealing a series win in Game 6 with a 50-point, 5-block performance.

Nothing but good vibes and positive energy from the Finals MVP, @Giannis_An34! 🤣 pic.twitter.com/wkEvhW3UEy

— NBA UK (@NBAUK) September 8, 2021

Antetokounmpo became the first big to have won the NBA Finals MVP award since Tim Duncan did it with the San Antonio Spurs in 2005.

The 'Greek Freak' ended a barren run of almost 16 years, proving that a team can build a franchise around a power forward.

#3 - Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs - 2004/2005

San Antonio Spurs v Detroit Pistons

Coming up against a resolute Detroit Pistons team that won the ring in 2004, Tim Duncan put on a commanding display in the Finals, averaging a stellar 20 points, 14 rebounds and two assists.

Duncan ended up winning the NBA Finals MVP award, his third in total and it was the last one he won. Before 2005, Duncan had racked up two Finals MVPs, one in 1999 and the other in 2003.

The 2005 NBA Finals MVP: Tim Duncan #GoSpursGo | #NBATogetherLive pic.twitter.com/gn4MPFZVA6

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) March 26, 2020

Tim Duncan was the mainstay of an extremely successful San Antonio Spurs side which won five NBA championships. The final ring came in 2014, marking the end of a legendary dynasty.

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#2- Shaquille O'Neal, LA Lakers - 2001/2002

Memorial Service For Los Angeles Lakers Owner Dr. Jerry Buss

Arguably the most dominant center in the history of the NBA, Shaquille O'Neal was one of the best players in the NBA in the late 90s and early 00s. O'Neal played an instrumental role in the LA Lakers' three-peat between 2000 and 2002, putting in some scintillating performances in the three Finals.

He won the NBA Finals MVP in all the three Finals, pipping his partner-in-crime Kobe Bryant to them. His last came against the Brooklyn Nets (then New Jersey Nets), in which he was his usual dominant self, putting up 36 points, 12 rebounds, and close to three blocks per game.

The other wins came against the Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers in 2001 and 2000, respectively. Against Allen Iverson's 76ers, Shaquille O'Neal averaged 33 points,16 rebounds, and four assists, displaying the overall nature of his game.

He was far more dominant against the Pacers, registering a 38-point, 16-rebound stat line, helping his side to an NBA championship.

#1 - Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets - 1994/1995

Hakeem Olajuwon during the 2013 NBA Draft

Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets managed to take advantage of Michael Jordan's absence in the NBA in 1994 and 1995, winning back-to-back NBA championships. Olajuwon was the anchor of the team, leading his side in both offensive and defensive actions.

Olajuwon came up big against the Orlando Magic and Shaquille O'Neal in the Finals in 1995, completely outplaying his counterpart. Olajuwon averaged 32 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, sealing a successive NBA Finals win for his franchise.

Hakeem Olajuwon remains an influential figure in the league, with a plethora of young bigs looking up to the Houston Rockets legend.

Olajuwon was known for his footwork and efficient shooting in the paint. He was also a defensive maverick, blocking opposition players' shots with aplomb.

Since Olajuwon's win, only three more bigs have won the NBA Finals MVP, which shows the diminishing demand for the position in the league in recent years.