Only NBA Stars Who Won MVP, Scoring Title, And Finals MVP In Same Season: SGA Could Join A Truly Elite Club
Only NBA Stars Who Won MVP, Scoring Title, And Finals MVP In Same Season: SGA Could Join A Truly Elite Club originally appeared on Fadeaway World.
In the 2024-25 NBA season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as a dominant force, leading the league with 32.7 points per game and earning the MVP award. His stellar performance has propelled the Oklahoma City Thunder to a league-best 68-14 record and a spot in the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers.
Advertisement
As the Finals unfold, Gilgeous-Alexander stands on the cusp of joining an exclusive club of NBA legends who've won the MVP, scoring title, and Finals MVP in the same season, a rare trifecta that truly shows a player's complete dominance throughout the year.
With the Thunder favored to win and Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge, basketball fans are witnessing a potentially historic season. Let's go through the seasons where this historical season was achieved, because it has only happened six times in NBA history.
1971 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Regular-Season Stats: 31.7 PPG, 16.0 RPG, 3.3 APG
NBA Finals Stats: 27.0 PPG, 18.5 RPG, 2.8 APG
In the 1970-71 season, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor) dominated the league, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 66-16 record. His exceptional performance earned him the NBA MVP award, and he also secured the scoring title with an average of 31.7 points per game.
Advertisement
During the NBA Finals, Abdul-Jabbar continued his dominance, averaging 27.0 points and 18.5 rebounds per game, leading the Bucks to a 4-0 sweep over the Baltimore Bullets. His outstanding play earned him the Finals MVP award, making him the first player in NBA history to win the MVP, scoring title, and Finals MVP in the same season.
1991 - Michael Jordan
Regular-Season Stats: 31.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 5.5 APG, 2.7 SPG, 1.0 BPG
NBA Finals Stats: 31.2 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 11.4 APG, 2.8 SPG, 1.4 BPG
The 1990-91 season marked a turning point for Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Jordan's stellar play earned him the NBA MVP award, and he led the league in scoring with 31.5 points per game. The Bulls finished the regular season with a 61-21 record, setting the stage for a deep playoff run.
Advertisement
In the NBA Finals, Jordan faced off against Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers. He elevated his game, averaging 31.2 points, 11.4 assists, and 6.6 rebounds per game. The Bulls defeated the Lakers in five games, and Jordan was named Finals MVP, completing the trifecta of MVP, scoring title, and Finals MVP in a single season.
1992 - Michael Jordan
Regular-Season Stats: 30.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 6.1 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.9 BPG
NBA Finals Stats: 35.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Building on the success of the previous season, Michael Jordan continued to dominate in 1991-92. He secured his second consecutive MVP award and led the league in scoring with 30.1 points per game. The Bulls once again finished the regular season with a strong record, positioning themselves as championship contenders.
Advertisement
In the NBA Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers, Jordan delivered one of his most memorable performances, averaging 35.8 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game. The Bulls won the series in six games, and Jordan was named Finals MVP, achieving the rare feat of winning the MVP, scoring title, and Finals MVP in the same season for the second consecutive year.
1996 - Michael Jordan
Regular-Season Stats: 30.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.3 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG
NBA Finals Stats: 27.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.2 BPG
After a brief retirement, Michael Jordan returned to the NBA with a vengeance in the 1995-96 season. He led the Bulls to a then-record 72-10 regular-season record, earning his fourth MVP award and leading the league in scoring with 30.4 points per game.
Advertisement
In the NBA Finals against the Seattle SuperSonics, Jordan averaged 27.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. The Bulls won the series in six games, and Jordan was named Finals MVP, marking the third time he achieved the trifecta of MVP, scoring title, and Finals MVP in a single season.
1998 - Michael Jordan
Regular-Season Stats: 28.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.5 BPG
NBA Finals Stats: 33.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.7 BPG
In what would be his final season with the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan once again led the league in scoring with 28.7 points per game and secured his fifth MVP award. The Bulls finished the regular season with a 62-20 record, setting the stage for another championship run.
Advertisement
Facing the Utah Jazz in the NBA Finals, Jordan delivered a masterful performance, averaging 33.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. The Bulls won the series in six games, and Jordan was named Finals MVP, achieving the MVP, scoring title, and Finals MVP trifecta for the fourth time in his illustrious career.
2000 - Shaquille O'Neal
Regular-Season Stats: 29.7 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 3.8 APG, 0.5 SPG, 3.0 BPG
NBA Finals Stats: 38.0 PPG, 16.7 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.7 BPG
Shaquille O'Neal's 1999-2000 season was one of the most dominant in NBA history. He led the league in scoring with 29.7 points per game, secured the MVP award, and guided the Los Angeles Lakers to a 67-15 regular-season record.
Advertisement
In the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, O'Neal was unstoppable, averaging 38.0 points, 16.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. The Lakers won the series in six games, and O'Neal was named Finals MVP, joining the exclusive club of players who have won the MVP, scoring title, and Finals MVP in the same season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Can Be The First Player In 25 Years To Join This Prestigious Club
As the 2025 NBA Finals unfold, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stands on the brink of etching his name into basketball lore. Having already secured the regular season MVP and the scoring title with an impressive 32.7 points per game, he now eyes the Finals MVP to complete a trifecta achieved by only three NBA legends who happened to be the most dominant in history.
Gilgeous-Alexander's postseason performance has been nothing short of stellar. Averaging 31.4 points, 8.2 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.8 steals in the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, he earned the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP award.
Advertisement
Now, as the Thunder face the Indiana Pacers in the Finals, he is the clear favorite to clinch the Finals MVP, with odds at -600. Should he succeed, Gilgeous-Alexander would not only join an elite club but also solidify his status as one of the game's greats, delivering Oklahoma City its first championship since the franchise's relocation.
Related: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Joins Elite List With Michael Jordan, LeBron James After Game 5 Win In West Finals
This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
16 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Analysis: After refusing to bottom out, the top is near for Pacers
As an exasperated NBA continues its never-ending quest to stamp out tanking, here come the Indiana Pacers rising from the debris of mediocrity, right on cue. There is a long-held belief in the NBA that the worst place to be is stuck in the middle: never bad enough to be in a position to draft top talent, but never quite good enough to compete for championships. It's Interstate 405 in Los Angeles, and it's rush hour. The league has increased its efforts in recent years to abolish tanking. It can use the Pacers as proof that it is possible to win big without it. Indiana is returning to the finals for the first time in 25 years after plenty of seasons spent stuck in the middle, but it has never entered a season trying to lose. Oh, there have been plenty of losses along the way. Indiana won 25 games in Rick Carlisle's return season, but it was a year derailed by injuries. In this case, intent matters. The Pacers began the 2021-22 season with playoff aspirations but became sellers at the trade deadline, sending Caris LeVert to the Cleveland Cavaliers for picks and acquiring Tyrese Haliburton from the Sacramento Kings in a separate deal that reshaped their future. At no point did the franchise enter a season with the idea of playing for lottery odds instead of wins. Not when Larry Bird was there as an executive, not when Frank Vogel coached, not when Carlisle was there the first time, and certainly not now. They have been tempted. The Pacers came close to acquiring Russell Westbrook's massive expiring contract in 2022 and picking up a first-round pick for the team owner Herb Simon's willingness to pay him. But such a move would have been a concession that the Pacers were giving up and bottoming out. The deal collapsed when the Lakers refused to add another first-rounder, and Myles Turner remained in Indianapolis. Now they are thrilled to still have him. Players never compete intending to lose, of course. But front offices can rig rosters so winning is nearly impossible. The Pacers never did that. In fact, throughout the last quarter-century, they have been more of a model for exactly how not to compete for an NBA championship. They made the playoffs in nine of the 10 seasons from 2010-11 to 2019-20 but advanced to the conference finals only twice. They were eliminated in the first round five consecutive years -- the definition of milquetoast. That was during the era of superteams and when LeBron James reigned in the East. Now the Pacers are thriving with healthy organizational development. Bennedict Mathurin and Jarace Walker were top 10 selections. The rest of this roster was constructed with midround picks or lower, aggressive trades, economical free-agent signings and a touch of patience. They resisted the urge to give up on Turner too soon. They gambled on Haliburton when they traded away Domantas Sabonis, who made a pair of All-Star Games while with the Pacers. They gambled on Pascal Siakam, trading three first-round picks for a player who was close to free agency. Siakam was the most valuable player of the conference finals and is still wearing Pacers colors. The Pacers have not paid the luxury tax since 2006. They have not picked in the top five since 1988. Yet they played for the NBA Cup and advanced to the conference finals last season, and now they are four wins from an NBA championship. Rarely have teams beaten a pair of 60-win teams to win a title. The Houston Rockets were the last to do it, in 1994. If the Pacers conquer the Thunder -- Game 1 of the NBA Finals is Thursday night in Oklahoma City -- Indiana will become the first team in NBA history to beat a pair of 64-win teams on the way to a ring. They eliminated the 64-win Cavaliers in the second round, and the Thunder won 68 games this season. Similarly, Indiana can eliminate seven All-NBA players in this postseason. It ended the seasons of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Still to come are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. Considering Haliburton was a third-team All-NBA selection, the Pacers could eliminate half of the remaining All-NBA players this postseason. They might not be the dominant monsters of dynasties past, but this has a chance to become a historic run of success nonetheless. This is exactly how the league wants teams to build now. What did not seem feasible when stars were teaming up in desirable markets now might be the best path forward: try hard, compete, draft wisely and organically develop talent the hard way. It is how the Denver Nuggets won two years ago. It is how the Pacers are doing it now. The last two lottery winners cashed in odds of 3% or less to win the No. 1 pick, an indication the current system is working as the league intended since flattening the lottery odds again in 2019. In the seven lotteries since, a team with the best odds won the first pick four times. The other three winners were long shots. Losing assures nothing. Tanking will probably never be abolished, but the NBA is much closer to its end goal than it was a decade ago. The Pacers never tried to lose. Now they're on the cusp, finally, of winning big. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Copyright 2025
NBC Sports
18 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
Bet on Holmgren, Nembhard to win NBA Finals MVP
Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick preview the 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers, sharing one longshot on each team who could be named the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NYC mayoral candidate agrees with Knicks' Tom Thibodeau firing during debate
Aspiring New York City mayoral candidates mostly agreed that the New York Knicks were wrong for firing head coach Tom Thibodeau. Bronx Assemblyman Michael Blake thought otherwise. Eight candidates vying for the highest seat at City Hall participated in the Democratic Mayor Debate on Wednesday. During a rapid-fire "thumbs up, thumbs down" section of the debate, Thibodeau's dismissal was mentioned. Advertisement Joining Blake in the debate were Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, former City Comptroller Scott Stringer, Brooklyn State Senator Zellnor Myrie, Queens State Senator Jessica Ramos and former hedge fund manager Whitney Tillson. While his opposition voted down the firing, Blake raised his thumb and said, "Our goal is to win the Finals, not to get to the Conference Finals." Despite leading the Knicks to their first Conference Finals appearance in 25 years, Thibodeau was relieved of his duties. His dismissal came two days after they lost to the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 30. Advertisement The Knicks had a strong season, finishing third in the East with a 51-31 record. The team took down the Detroit Pistons and dethroned the Boston Celtics both in six games before running into Indiana. The Pacers derailed what would have been the Knicks' first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 — a chance to compete for their first title since 1973. As the Mayoral race continues, so does the Knicks' coaching search during the offseason. Micheal Malone, Mike Brown, Darvin Hamm and Jeff Van Gundy have all been linked to the vacancy.
