Some interesting championship facts

[mr. dee]

I don't know if this is a relevant post or not but I found this somehow interesting.

Since the establishment of the 3 pt line, no teams have won championship without:

-League MVP
-DPOY


Here are the list of NBA champs since 1980 and notable players who have won MVP and DPOY awards:

1980 - Los Angeles Lakers

MVP:
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1971-72, 1974, 1976-77, 1980)
- Magic Johnson (1987, 1989-90)

DPOY:
- Michael Cooper (1987)

1981 Boston Celtics

MVP:
- Larry Bird (1984-86)

1982 - Los Angeles Lakers

MVP:
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1971-72, 1974, 1976-77, 1980)
- Magic Johnson (1987, 1989-90)

DPOY:
- Michael Cooper (1987)

1983 - Philadelphia 76ers

MVP:
- Julius Erving (1981)
- Moses Malone (1979, 1982-83)

1984 Boston Celtics

MVP:
- Larry Bird (1984-86)

1985 - Los Angeles Lakers

MVP:
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1971-72, 1974, 1976-77, 1980)
- Magic Johnson (1987, 1989-90)

DPOY:
- Michael Cooper (1987)

1986 Boston Celtics

MVP:
- Larry Bird (1984-86)
- Bill Walton (1978)

1987-88 - Los Angeles Lakers

MVP:
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1971-72, 1974, 1976-77, 1980)
- Magic Johnson (1987, 1989-90)

DPOY:
- Michael Cooper (1987)

1989-90 - Detroit Pistons

DPOY:
- Dennis Rodman (1990-91)

1991-93 - Chicago Bulls

MVP:
- Michael Jordan (1988, 1991-92, 1996, 1998)

DPOY:
- Michael Jordan (1988)

1994-95 - Houston Rockets

MVP:
Hakeem Olajuwon (1994)

DPOY:
Hakeem Olajuwon (1993-94)

1996-1998 - Chicago Bulls

MVP:
- Michael Jordan  (1988, 1991-92, 1996, 1998)

DPOY:
- Michael Jordan (1988)
- Dennis Rodman (1990-91)

1999 - San Antonio Spurs

MVP:
- David Robinson (1995)
- Tim Duncan (2002-03)

DPOY:
- David Robinson (1992)

2000-02 - Los Angeles Lakers

MVP:
- Shaquille O'neal (2000)
- Kobe Bryant (2008)

2003 - San Antonio Spurs

MVP:
- David Robinson (1995)
- Tim Duncan (2002-03)

DPOY:
- David Robinson (1992)

2004 - Detroit Pistons

DPOY:
- Ben Wallace (2002-03, 2005-06)

2005 - San Antonio Spurs

MVP:
- Tim Duncan (2002-03)

2006 - Miami Heat

MVP:
- Shaquille O'neal (2000)

DPOY:
- Gary Payton (1996)
- Alonzo Mourning (1999-2000)

2007 - San Antonio Spurs

MVP:
- Tim Duncan (2002-03)

2008 - Boston Celtics

MVP:
- Kevin Garnett (2004)

DPOY:
- Kevin Garnett (2008)

2009 - Los Angeles Lakers

MVP:
- Kobe Bryant (2008)

2010 - Los Angeles Lakers

MVP:
- Kobe Bryant (2008)

DPOY:
- Ron Artest (2004)

2011 - Dallas Mavericks

MVP:
- Dirk Nowitzki (2007)

DPOY:
- Tyson Chandler (2012)

2012-13 - Miami Heat

MVP:
- Lebron James (2009-10, 2012-13)

2014 - San Antonio Spurs

MVP:
- Tim Duncan (2002-03)

DPOY:
- Kawhi Leonard (2015)

2015 - Golden State Wariors

MVP:
- Steph Curry (2015)


Even those who failed to capture a title still provided at least one deep playoff run.

Charles Barkley (1993 MVP)
- NBA Finals (1993 - Phoenix Suns)

Karl Malone (1997,1999 MVP)
- NBA Finals (1997-98 - Utah Jazz)

Allen Iverson (2001 MVP)
- NBA Finals (2001 - Philadelphia 76ers)

Steve Nash (2005-06 MVP)
- WCF (2005-06, 2010 - Phoenix Suns)

Derick Rose (2011 MVP)
- ECF (2011 - Chicago Bulls)

Kevin Durant (2014 MVP)
- NBA Finals (2012 - Oklahoma City Thunders)

Sydney Moncrief (1983-84 DPOY)
- ECF (1983-84, 1986 - Milwaukee Bucks)

Mark Eaton (1985, 1989 DPOY)
- WCF (1992 - Utah Jazz)

Dikembe Mutombo (1995, 1997-98, 2001 DPOY)
- NBA Finals (2001 - Philadelphia 76ers, 2003 - New Jersey Nets)

Marcus Camby (2007 DPOY)
- NBA Finals (1999 - New York Knicks)

Dwight Howard (2009-11 DPOY)
- NBA Finals (2009 - Orlando Magic)

Marc Gasol (2013 DPOY)
- WCF (2013 - Memphis Grizzlies)

Joakim Noah (2014 DPOY)
- ECF (2011 - Chicago Bulls)


Out of 70 teams that made it in the finals, only 5 teams have made it there without either MVP of DPOY players on their respective roster, but none of them have won a finals series. 5 MVP since 1980 didn't won NBA championship (2 of them still have the chance) and only one DPOY player never made it past the second round.

I'm not sure if we have the player to develop as MVP type, but we have a player that have a potential to be DPOY. This type of award usually comes after the team made a deep playoff run and impressive winning season.

[tarheelsxxiii]

Fine post, thanks for the info. I'm guessing homework was never a problem for you as a kid?

[D Dub]

Wow, cool stat.   TP for posting

Crazy also that only like 25 guys find themselves on this list over the course of 35 years.   Goes to show what a crap shoot the draft really is. 

[mr. dee]

Fine post, thanks for the info. I'm guessing homework was never a problem for you as a kid?

I hate homeworks. If my teacher told me to research about my favorite team, it would be a different matter. LOL.

[Csfan1984]

That is up there with top ten picks on a championship team. And big men selected in top ten on a championship team.

[mr. dee]

That is up there with top ten picks on a championship team. And big men selected in top ten on a championship team.

Drafting is a crap shoot. You have guys like Olowakandi, Kwame, Darko and Thabeet, all big men drafted at top 5.

Players outside top 10 also managed not to only win DPOY but also MVPs.

MVP Players drafted outside top 10:

- Karl Malone (13th overall)
- Steve Nash (15th overall)
- Kobe Bryant (13th overall)

DPOY Players drafted outside top 10:

- Mark Eaton (72nd overall)
- Dennis Rodman (27th overall)
- Ben Wallace (Undrafted)
- Ron Artest (16th overall)
- Michael Cooper (60th overall)
- Kawhi Leonard (15th overall)
- Marc Gasol (48th overall)

This means that we have a good chance of landing some DPOY players, even outside the top 10 in the draft and its also possible to find MVP type players around 11-15 range although very unlikely.

[D.o.s.]

So there have only been three MVP winners drafted outside the top 10, and only 6 (or 7 depending on how you want to classify Wallace) DPOY winners drafted outside the top 10 in the last 30 years?

It would seem to me, then, that this would be a strong argument for finding as many picks within the top 10, as well as trading for as much top 10 talent, as possible. Assuming, of course, you think the criteria -- regular season MVP and DPOY -- are integral to a championship run, as is being alleged here.

edit: It would seem that the Bad Boy pistons disprove your point, though, unless I'm misreading it.

[tarheelsxxiii]

So there have only been three MVP winners drafted outside the top 10, and only 6 (or 7 depending on how you want to classify Wallace) DPOY winners drafted outside the top 10 in the last 30 years?

It would seem to me, then, that this would be a strong argument for finding as many picks within the top 10, as well as trading for as much top 10 talent, as possible. Assuming, of course, you think the criteria -- regular season MVP and DPOY -- are integral to a championship run, as is being alleged here.

edit: It would seem that the Bad Boy pistons disprove your point, though, unless I'm misreading it.

Anytime you're discussing "bad boys," all bets are off.

[mr. dee]

So there have only been three MVP winners drafted outside the top 10, and only 6 (or 7 depending on how you want to classify Wallace) DPOY winners drafted outside the top 10 in the last 30 years?

It would seem to me, then, that this would be a strong argument for finding as many picks within the top 10, as well as trading for as much top 10 talent, as possible. Assuming, of course, you think the criteria -- regular season MVP and DPOY -- are integral to a championship run, as is being alleged here.

edit: It would seem that the Bad Boy pistons disprove your point, though, unless I'm misreading it.

Im not suggesting it, the facts do. You have washed up players who won championship (see Payton and Mourning) and it doesnt change the fact that they are part of that team and fit the criteria.

Aside from Thomas, Bad Boy Piston consist of players drafted outside top 10

Bill Laimbeer - 65th overall
Rick Mahorn - 35th overall
Joe Dumars -18th overall
John Salley - 11th overall

Mark Aguirre and Microwave was traded, not drafted. It's not impossible to trade for a star, just don't expect it to be another MVP type like KG.

[Big333223]

Nice post.

It's also interesting that only 3 teams in that span won without an MVP and all 3 were the Detroit Pistons ('89, '90, '04). It would be one thing if those Bad Boy teams were the only ones but it seems even weirder that another Pistons team did it, years later, with a completely different roster.

[GreenWarrior]

That is up there with top ten picks on a championship team. And big men selected in top ten on a championship team.

Drafting is a crap shoot. You have guys like Olowakandi, Kwame, Darko and Thabeet, all big men drafted at top 5.

while I know even the slightest talented center will go high, and also realize everybody in the draft is technically a project. but I always felt those guys were more of a project than your typical draftees.

imo if you're drafting in the top 10 you should be drafting all-stars or a DPoY. the least bit of a project as possible.

those teams made mistakes because someone else said they should draft them.

[Beat LA]

Isiah should have been the MVP for the 88-89 season, at least, imo, but his statements about Bird probably meant that many of the voters would never, well, vote for him, which is a shame, too, because he deserved it that year.

[chambers]

So there have only been three MVP winners drafted outside the top 10, and only 6 (or 7 depending on how you want to classify Wallace) DPOY winners drafted outside the top 10 in the last 30 years?

It would seem to me, then, that this would be a strong argument for finding as many picks within the top 10, as well as trading for as much top 10 talent, as possible. Assuming, of course, you think the criteria -- regular season MVP and DPOY -- are integral to a championship run, as is being alleged here.

edit: It would seem that the Bad Boy pistons disprove your point, though, unless I'm misreading it.

quoted for truth, TP.

[littleteapot]

This is a little unfair, because the MVP and DPOY awards are subjective, and many voters consciously or unconsciously favor people on the best teams.

For example Carmelo Anthony in his prime was much better than Steph Curry is now IMO, but Steph has an MVP because he was the best player on the best team.

So this doesn't necessarily show that the best players make the best teams and not vice versa. I still agree with the conclusion that the best players do make the best teams in the NBA, but I don't think this is a perfect example of it.

EDIT: Not to mention that the "championship pedigree" also influences voting. I honestly don't think that Kawhi Leonard would have won the DPOY last year if he had meant that much for his team defensively, but hadn't been in the finals the two previous years and won it last year. He clearly meant a ton to his team, but I think there are many better individual defensive players who mean more to their more flawed teams.

[chambers]

This is a little unfair, because the MVP and DPOY awards are subjective, and many voters consciously or unconsciously favor people on the best teams.

For example Carmelo Anthony in his prime was much better than Steph Curry is now IMO, but Steph has an MVP because he was the best player on the best team.

So this doesn't necessarily show that the best players make the best teams and not vice versa. I still agree with the conclusion that the best players do make the best teams in the NBA, but I don't think this is a perfect example of it.

This is a good point as well.
Perhaps guys like Curry get the MVP vote over Lebron or Harden because they are favored to win a championship, or their team is simply awesome and they are the best player on that team....in other words, the team makes the player and thus the player wins the MVP...