Editor’s Note: Today we have another article from guest writer, Kateasa Blair. She has an interesting look at how MVPs have done in the playoffs in the last decade.
| Season | MVP | Champions |
| 1999-2000 | Shaquille O’Neal (LAL) | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2000-2001 | Allen Iverson (PHI) | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2001-2002 | Tim Duncan (SAS) | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2002-2003 | Tim Duncan (SAS) | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2003-2004 | Kevin Garnett (MIN) | Detroit Pistons |
| 2004-2005 | Steve Nash (PHX) | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2005-2006 | Steve Nash (PHX) | Miami Heat |
| 2006-2007 | Dirk Nowitzki (DAL) | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2007-2008 | Kobe Bryant (LAL) | Boston Celtics |
Notice a pattern? In the course of the last 8 NBA seasons, only two players have received the Most Valuable Player trophy and won a championship in the same season: Shaq and Tim Duncan. The two players also belonged to two of the most dominating teams of recent years. Lately, however, none of the MVPs have won the NBA championship, and most didn’t even make it to the Finals. In 2006-2007, Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks, whom had lost in the finals the previous season, were surprisingly eliminated in the first round by the Golden State Warriors. Last season, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers looked to be the only team that was a threat to the Boston Celtics, but suffered a heart-breaking loss to them in six games. In 2001, Allen Iverson led the 76ers to the finals against the Lakers, and although they played tremendously, they came up short. Kevin Garnett, playing for the Timberwolves, did not make it to the finals in 2003-2004; it was instead played by the Los Angeles Lakers and the Detroit Pistons. Steve Nash took the award home in two straight seasons, 2004-2005 and 2005-2006, but the Suns fell short to the Spurs and the Mavericks, respectively, in the Western Conference Finals. Why is it that the MVPs don’t bring home a championship? All of them are capable; Kevin Garnett helped Boston hang its 17th banner in 2008, and Kobe Bryant already has three rings, but neither did it his MVP season. Not surprisingly, LeBron James was named MVP of 2008-2009 season, and he is looking to break the curse.
Other articles by Kateasa:
