If FINALS MVPs Were Given to the BEST Player… (1980s)
Вставка
- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- Thanks to Keeps for sponsoring this video! Head to keeps.com/jonny to get 50% off your first order of hair loss treatment.
------
The NBA gives its Finals MVPs to players with a favorable narrative, and who are almost always on the winning team... but what if the award was given to the player who was simply the best player that series? This is the 1980s breakdown of just that.
----------
Make sure to subscribe for more NBA History!
Follow Me on Instagram!
Instagram: / jonnyarnett. .
Interested in connecting more with the this Basketball community? Join up on Discord.
/ discord
______
The game of Basketball has been my passion since I was 5 years old. I grew up as a kid watching my dad's recorded VHS tapes of playoff games through the 70s and 80s, and collected all the Basketball cards. Something about the game and what it represents just hooked me from a very young age.
My love for the game only continues to grow as time goes on. I love studying and analyzing the game, with an unbiased perspective. Feel free to subscribe, follow me on social media, and celebrate this amazing game and it's rich history with me!
I post videos every week on NBA history, predictions, hypothetical scenarios and current NBA topics.
______
Intro Music: Turn On - RW Smith • Turn On - RW Smith (No...
-----
#MagicJohnson #LarryBird #MVP
Thanks to Keeps for sponsoring this video! Head to keeps.com/jonny to get 50% off your first order of hair loss treatment.
Which Finals MVP of the 80s was the most impressive?
I love this series..can you do it for DPOY? and ROY?
You should do a "dream team" for each decade. Choosing starters AND bench (something most people ignore).
Kareem at age 38 for sure.
86 Bird
I know you said ‘arguably’ but Lebron had a better finals performance than magic with 41 pts 16 rb 7assists 3 steals 3 blocks in game 5 vs a 73 win team
Can you do this series for DPOY? And ROY? I love your opinion and perspective on the voting process and narratives that go into these awards. Kareem has to keep the 1980 FMVP for me. Otherwise...everything else is ok
Keep? He didn't even win it.
Or do FMVP before 1969 or DPOY before 1974 or what happens if Offensive player of the year existed and who would have won it.
How can you be the FMVP if you miss a game and your replacement plays your position better than you?
@@thsu8 Bro. Did you see Kareem's stats? Ok if not 1980, then he keeps the 85 FMVP
DPOY, imo…
1977: Bobby Jones
1978: Walton
1979: Kareem
1980: Dan Roundfield
1981: Dennis Johnson
1982: Jack Sikma
1983: Moncrief
1984: Moncrief
1985: Mark Eaton
1986: Manute Bol
1987: Michael Cooper or Hakeem
1988: Michael Jordan
1989: Hakeem or Eaton
This just shows how dominant Magic and Bird were! Rare talents
Top 5
This video should (rightfully so) be called "Why Magic deserves every FMVP of the 1980s" lol
More like, “find an argument for why Magic deserves each FMVP even if it contradicts my previous one”. I legitimately respect Jonny as one of the smartest and best NBA youtubers but this isn’t his best work. He lets his Magic fandom influence him way too much here.
“Magic Fandom”? Lol. Where does that come from? Where was my “Magic fandom” when I ranked Bird over Magic in both my 50 greatest list AND on my Versus video? Most Laker fans wouldn’t even dare to say such a thing, so ranking a Laker ahead of another is no big deal in comparison. Plus Magic isn’t even my favorite Laker on this list, that’s Worthy 100%. If you disagree with the argument, that’s fine, and I respect your take, but projecting bias onto me simply you disagree, is a bit of a stretch, especially to those who are aware of my previous videos.
@@jonnyarnett even Celtics fans, which I am know that magic was better
@@jonnyarnett please tag him next time lol, he might delete his comment and it will seem like you were replying to me
@@jonnyarnett Fair enough. From conversing with you before, it seemed you highly regarded Magic in comparison to other members of Showtime, but I shouldn't have made that assumption and I apologize for that. I still find the logic here to be the most dubious of all the videos of yours I've watched though.
I was remembering these series just yesterday, glad to see it come back!
Johnny fucking Arnett...wish I could but you a beer for all the times you've made my day! Take care brotha, and keep up the great content!
Lol. I appreciate it man!
JONNY Arnett is the real MVP
Great list! Never did watch these Finals series but hearing your insight help me picture it a bit. Also, Magic Johnson is a beast. No wonder at one point he was considered the GOAT. Thanks as always Jonny!
Bird is considered the GOAT by many
@@javigar133 nobody thinks that nigga is even top 5😂
Thank you very much for the content, Jonny! For me, being a basketball casual, the context you provide comes in clutch in helping me understand the game more. Much love 🙏🏻
What about "What if fmvps were given to the greatest performers pre 1969"? I'd love a video on the golden ages.
That would be a great video!
For those saying the 80s was a "weak"a era or was full of "plumbers". Here are the top 50 players of the 1980s:
- Magic Johnson
- Larry Bird
- Michael Jordan
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Moses Malone
- Isiah Thomas
- Kevin McHale
- Hakeem Olajuwon
- Dominique Wilkins
- Julius Erving
- George Gervin
- Sidney Moncrief
- Charles Barkley
- James Worthy
- Alex English
- Bernard King
- Adrian Dantley
- Clyde Drexler
- Micheal Ray Richardson
- Karl Malone
- Robert Parish
- Patrick Ewing
- Mark Aguirre
- Dennis Johnson
- Ralph Sampson
- Tom Chambers
- Marques Johnson
- Larry Nance
- Dale Ellis
- Walter Davis
- Artis Gilmore
- Kiki Vandeweghe
- Jack Sikma
- Andrew Toney
- Terry Cummings
- Alvin Robertson
- John Stockton
- Maurice Cheeks
- Bobby Jones
- Rolando Blackman
- Dan Roundfield
- Fat Lever
- Reggie Theus
- World B. Free
- Buck Williams
- Mike Mitchell
- Xavier McDaniel
- Otis Birdsong
- Jamaal Wilkes
- Gus Williams
Yeah that’s always made 0 sense to me , 30 years from now people will say lebron curry and KD played against plumbers without context too 🤷🏾♂️
Its a weak list tbh
@@WanderingBrushArt casual LeBron fan to be like
Nah dawg.
Bill Russell’s era was trash. Winning 11 rings with 8-10 teams of PLUMBERS.. 80s were legit.
@@nvs6607 the ironic thing about that is it’s mostly LBJ fans who run with that “80’s/90’s era was weak” narrative to discredit MJ.
Finally 😍😍😍 my favourite videos from this channel.
Man imaging jumping into the court like that when your team wins the chip. What an era!
It was the same in every sport.
It was okay to run on the field or the court after a big game.
I think the biggest reason why Kareem got it 1985 cause how good he performed being 37 or 38
He should have gotten the 1980 finals mvp anyway
Gonna be a very interesting video to watch as always so i’m looking forward to it already. Appreciate all the effort going into every video as well 💪🏽
I'm always watching you videos you know a lot abt basketball, keep going💪
Great video idea bro, I think my favorite finals mvp story in history has gotta be the confusion behind the award in the 1978 year
Before even watching, I like the video cause I know it’ll be fire 🔥
Based on what you told in the video I would actually give the 1980 award to Kareem and keep Maxwell for the 1981 award. I have not watched those series myself, so this is really purely based on the information in this video.
Every single Finals match ups in the 80s featured either Magic or Bird. That’s crazy
I'd love to see a series that highlights some lesser known amazing defenders. Because we don't hear alot about great defensive players besides some of the obvious ones. Rodman, Hakeem, Mutumbo. Ben Wallace etc etc. But we don't hear about the others. I'd love to learn about some more about lesser known, underdog type of defenders that never really got the credit they deserved. Sounds interesting to me. What do you think?
By the way Kareem didn’t even go to Philly for game 6 so they couldn’t even physically give it to him since he wasn’t here, magic did deserve it mostly due to that legendary game.
Why does he deserve it due to that game instead of Kareem for his game 5 (and the rest of the series)? If anything, I think the Kareem not being there part of the story shows how image based that decision was.
Kareem was easily the best player over the course of the series. He deserved the award more then Johnson, Finals MVP is not about who's the best player in the final game.
YES SIR!! here it is i been waiting for monts :)
I never know what to say. Great video. I enjoy these very much.
Good choice keeping Magic for 1980. You can’t really be the MVP if you miss an entire game and your team wins anyway.
Magic was also insane all series.
I 100% agree with what you are saying, but without Kareem the Lakers would've lost the series, he'll they wouldn't even made the finals
kinda biased. james loses his award for the very same reason magic got his. cause they both performed extremely well on one game
tell that to willis reed lol
Willis Reed missed two games in the finals but still won the finals MVP
@@princesally743 Funnily enough, I reckon it shoulda been Jerry West again. On the losing side again, poor bloke.
Love the video! Could you do a 2010s playoffs mvp video?
I'd let Kareem keep his. That scoring and efficiency against one of the best post defenses in nba history deserves the FMVP imo
He undoubtedly should’ve won 1980 too. Magic almost singlehandedly lost the Lakers a critical game 5 that series and only Kareem’s all time performance that game gave Lakers a lead in that series they’d never relinquish. I really like Jonny and his stuff but he was wilding with the pro Magic takes this vid.
@@ethanjobson3879 idk, I dont want a guy who didnt play every game to win fMVP
@@MikeTheNBAGuy Why? Magic was a liability in Game 5 and would've cost the team the game and the lead in the series if not for Kareem stepping up. Why should that matter less than circumstances out of Kareem's control keeping him off the court?
Kareem put them in position up 3-2 to begin with I'd take 3 wins over 1 anyday
@@ethanjobson3879 because he literally didnt play? he only contributed in 5/6 games in the series. Even if Magic didnt have literally the single greatest game in nba history in game 6, I'm not giving the FMVP to someone who didnt play every game, it's not the "finals game 5" MVP
Love your videos!! Can we get more of this or maybe every asterisk on every finals of that decade or mvp winners
People forget Jordan was active during many of these years, since he started playing in1984...
He was great since being a rookie, but it just goes to show how fantastic these Lakers/76ers/Celtics/Pistons teams were, and how important having other greats like Pippen is to a team winning a championship.
Guys put that notification bell on, this is one of the greatest basketball channels. You make me so happy when u upload your videos and they make me feel better through the day, thank you for your research and dedication ♡
Is finals mvp given to the best player in the final game? or is it given to the best player of the entire finals series?
The entire series
This is my exact argument for Kareem over Magic in 1980
Then 1980 decision doesn’t make any sense.
yess i was waiting for this one 😈😈😈
And people have the gull to say that John Stockton and Steph Curry are better point guards than Earvin Magic Johnson.......please,
You should do a video in which you discuss ROTY awards since there have been many times in which these are tightly contested.
I was waiting for this such a long time.
agree with everything but 1980 Kareem was on another level on both ends of the floor
I think Worthy should keep it.
One of the best finals Game 7 performance of all time if you ask me.
But I can't say that Magic didn't deserve it either
I really don’t get Jonny’s take about 1980 and 1988. Worthy played more minutes in game 7 1988 in large part because he didn’t get himself in foul trouble like Magic. But because Magic had better overall stats, he takes the award. Yet apparently Kareem shouldn’t get 1980 despite better stats due to circumstances outside of his control?
Nevermind magic had better stats than worthy that seriee
The Lakers entire identity was running the fast break which was 99% magic Johnson
@@ethanjobson3879 Circumstances beyond his control? Kareem chose to stay home and rest. 100% he plays if it is game 7 and not game 6. The best Lakers team was the one in game 6. Without Kareem in the middle it opened things up for better movement and team play. Magic made everyone around him better.
@@floydparr8006 So you can choose whether or not to get injured?
"The best Lakers team was the one in Game 6"
Lol, they won by 16 with it being a ten point game heading into the fourth quarter in a game where Magic was shooting 61% from the field. and hit all 14 of his free throw attempts. That's from a guy who was a 54% career shooter from inside the arc and an 84% FT shooter. If you legitimately think that was sustainable on a consistent basis, you're losing it. No, losing MVP prime Kareem did not make Lakers better on a team where Magic was a rookie. I hope this isn't an indication Magic stans are becoming as irrational as MJ stans.
@@ethanjobson3879 You can't choose if you are injured. You can choose to play injured. Players do it all of the time. Kareem chose to stay home and rest instead of play game 6. Do you really think Kareem doesn't play if it was game 7?
When you look at their overall stats, Magic was more efficient. Kareem led the team in scoring, but Magic's assists make up for that difference. Kareem wasn't generating that offense by himself, it was Magic and Norm Nixon setting him up.
Were you watching basketball in 1980? As a Lakers fan since the 60s, I can tell you that Magic was the guy who made those teams. Calling people names as some sort of insult is childish. I am a Lakers fan not a Magic Stan, whatever that is. I am going to give credit to the guy who won my team 5 championships, titles they don't win without him. I agree with Jonny, Magic deserved all 5 Finals MVPs.
I'd disagree still with that 1980/81 FMVP's, but I appreciate your opinion
Great work as always
U need to turn this into a series because I get geeked for these list bro
Already have bro! This is actually my 10th video in my “Real MVPs” series, so you’ve got a lot of catching up to do if you want to see the rest. Lol. Here’s the playlist
m.ua-cam.com/play/PLQwPRuZFpEDBH34WLwxmlJcYaOdr2Xnmz.html
@@jonnyarnett oh I watched 👀 those already told u big fan of the channel bro can't wait for u to do one from the eastern conference
The goat has returned with a new video
Can you please make a video about if the finals MVP existed way before 1969 the first year it was given who would’ve won it.
Can’t wait for the 90’s to recent vids
Happy to see this series back
James Worthy absolutely positively deserved his Finals MVP!
He dominated the biggest game, he won Game 7 and thus the 🏆 championship.
Stats don’t always tell what happened in a series, and game 7, the ultimate must win or go home needs to carry that weight.
I was thinking during the intro that if rebounds, assists, and shooting percentages weren't weighed in pretty well on par with scoring, in this video, that it wasn't worth much. My apologies. It was done right. Thanks.
Top content as always
this series is back nice i like it
Basically if you won an FMVP in the 80s but your name wasn’t Erving Johnson give it back
Rename the video to "why magic Johnson deserved every fmvp
YES YES YEEEEEEEEEEESSSS
MY PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED, JONNY KNOW I'VE BEEN ASKING
This is a great series can’t wait for more
Finals MVPs are about who made the biggest impact to win the series when it mattered the most. In 1988 when it mattered most was in Game 7, it was a taffy pull for 6 games, Worthy was by far the best in game 7 and he was great in Game 6, 2 elimination games, he also had a great 24 and 10 boards in game 2. His stats would be better if not for a horrid game he had with 7 points in foul trouble. In 1985 for example, the biggest game was Game 2 and that is where Kareem won the MVP by altering the destiny of the series and changing momentum.
Good comment, agreed. So how do you explain Steph and Kyrie not winning the 2015 and 2016 FMVP?
@@thsu8 my sense is Iguodala received MVP for being the spark of the series, shooting 52% and defending James into a 39% fg series, in 2016 James had a great series and a triple double in game 7 and the media was kissing his butt for this win
Babe wake up , Jonny released a new video
How is this guy not hired by Fox Sports and/or ESPN?
The only one I disagree with is 81’
I think Maxwell deserved it due to the large gap in efficiency between him and Bird, despite Bird’s insane rebounding performance
Me too
You make it pretty hard for us to disagree with you because of how precise you are, great Job on this video and you convinced me that those players did and didn’t deserve the finals mvp.
Video idea that you could likely write from memory: forgotten nobodys that were propably a ring away from HOF.
Not to out myself as a casual but I haven't watched any of these series'but these videos still go hard
Moses Malone with average 25.8 points and 18 rebounds on 51% FG% is absolutely absurd. That man is a monster.
Let’s gooo, we didn’t do those videos in a while.
I am disappointed not to see any player from the losing team winning the MVP, I thought that is what the video was about
I still think 1985 belonged to Kareem, he was pretty much every on the stat sheet and on top of his crazy scoring with really good FG % he did a shit ton of assists too.
Do a 1970s finals mvp video and go into Jerry West's 1969 finals MVP in more detail as well.
Now do the 90s... Great video, BTW!
Thank you! Already done btw! ua-cam.com/video/m6xpcKrCKVo/v-deo.html
IMO…
1980: Kareem (by a hair over Magic)
1981: Bird (slightly above Maxwell)
1982: Magic
1983: Moses
1984: Bird
1985: Kareem
1986: Bird
1987: Magic
1988: Magic (little bit above Worthy)
1989: Dumars (Isiah not FAR behind)
…
In 1980, you could say Magic, but I think he was 1b to Kareem’s 1a, and that’s because Kareem didn’t play in the decisive game6… Jabbar was definitely the better player and was having a considerably better series, while they only won game5 due to him. He even wanted to play game6 but they eventually decided it would be better for him to heal and to return in game7 if there was one (which didn’t happen), to wreck shop yet again and for LA to win the series. Magic was incredible in game6 but I think Kareem’s impact in the 5 games he played were ahead Magic’s 6 games. In 1985 though, I don’t think there’s much of an argument for Magic over Kareem in 1985… Jabbar went back to like his prime/peak level, and was also clutch as hell!
Bird didn’t win it in 1981 because he was the total opposite of a media darling (contrary to Magic)… but he was flat-out the better player, and also had the overall most impact for the series. Not to mention that in the Conference Finals, the real Finals let’s call it, between the two best teams in the league that year (the Celtics and the 76ers), Larry played some unreal basketball while Boston pulled through in 7 games, in one of the best series of all-time!
Exactly right
hope you're doing well Johnny!
I honestly just watch to see his smooth transitions to the sponsorships
don't forget that larry scored 8 points in 2 games of the series in 81
Yea I can't switch it either
Did Mj DIRTY before that Keeps add 😄
Joe Dumars is such an underrated player
And the MVP goes to Jonny Arnett! 😁
miss those kind of battle of the boards. that skinny dude larry going up there grabbing the ball without fear..
Do a series on every MVP and who should be the mvp
I love this series ;)
96 Penny VS 11 Rose
91-93 Grant VS 96-98 Rodman
84-86 McHale VS 91-93 Pippen
Duncan 03 P.O run VS Dirk 11 P.O run
I think you should start using true shooting more than field goal percentage. Its better in saying how effecient a player actually is
We need you to do this for DPOY I feel like there were so many snubs
curious what ppl think of my all time top 15.
1.-Jordan
2.-kobe (if some think that’s boy too hi that’s understandable but he’s 100%
at least #5 / top 5
3.-lebron. / 4.kareem (interchangeable)
5.magic
6. bird
7-tim duncan / 8-shaq (interchangeable)
9. wilt
10. hakeem
11-15 (Dr J, KD,Steph,KG,Dirk)
sorry bill is overrated
Duncan should be there with Kobe
There is no way Kobe is top 2 for me his top 5
My top
My top 10
1. Jordan
2.lebron James
3.karreem Abdul Jabari
4. Wilt chamberlain
5. Kobe Bryant
6. Bill russel
7.magic Johnson
8. Larry bird
9. Shaq
10. Tim Duncan/hakkeem
Magic was the oil and Kareem was the engine. Magic was the parachute and Kareem the plane
I agree mostly but since we are talking about just the finals (not the playoffs as a whole) and the best player whether from the losing or winning team thn my list would have to be:
Only the finals:
1980=Kareem
1981=Moses
1982=Earvin
1983=Moses
1984=Bird
1985=Earvin
1986=Bird
1987=Earvin
1988=Worthy or Earvin (50% for both)
1989=Dumars
The playoffs as a whole: win or lose
1980=Kareem
1981=Moses
1982=Juluis
1983=Moses
1984=Bird
1985=Earvin
1986=Bird
1987=Earvin
1988=Earvin
1989=Isiah
Magic final MVP 1980 1982 1987 1988 in 1988 final hi was the best Player all the series
This is why Magic is still the greatest over Curry, Tho Curry beats him in scoring, efficiency and handles but Magic’s all-around game was far better than Curry, being arguably the best playmaker/passer ever, was a great rebounder, was a good defender, was the anchor of his team’s offense and was the Showman for the Lakers Show, He went to many Finals and even tho he lost and wasn’t picked for most wins, he was still arguably the best player on the floor, I can’t say the same about Curry in any series in the Finals, Tho he deserved the award over Iguodala in 2015 if we are talking about the Victory but if we were talking about the Finals as a whole and using the same metric as this video, LeBron James would’ve won that award, Magic to me is the perfect PG, being the best all-around PG ever, who was also a good defender, who could also shoot lights out when he wants too, the thing is the 3pt line was added in his rookie year, so he didn’t have much to learn in order to be a better 3pt shooter but he adapted and became a good 3pt shooter over time, not as good as Curry tho but Curry had the luxury of watching guys like Reggie, Ray Allen, Larry Bird and even his own dad shoot the 3ball and Magic didn’t have that, if he did, he would’ve been a far better shooter than what he once was and that would just add more to his game and make him an even better player than what he already was.
Idk if he beats him in scoring; but as an offensive engine and weapon I feel he still has the edge over him as of now. It’s just hard to say that his all time playmaking which is arguably the greatest ever wasn’t leveraged well against his scoring when he put his energy & focus into it.
Curry is less comparable to Magic as a playmaker to me than Magic is to him as a scorer. Curry is obviously the better shooter, but I feel that Magic is slightly the better defender. Giving him the good label for me is a reach even for me in some respects if you want to break it down situationally.
He had Kareem to lean into his playmaking and people don’t realize the % of AST he has to him. People also forget the games he played without him during their run together when Kareem was still playing at an All NBA caliber.
Curry really needs another MVP or FMVP to even be considered at #1 to me.
Let's do a kobe vs curry. Ur content is awesome plus the work you put into it
Love it here
I honestly dint know what a pg is anymore considering most pgs nowadays arent true pgs like steve nash, magic and stockton, cuz curry, lillard, and kyrie are more like combo guards... we might have to make new positions in basketball as we are losing what s true pg is, lamelo is like the only true pg ik
If magic didnt choke, didnt have 6 somes, and had help in the 91 finals.. he wouldve easily been the goat tbh
Please make a vid on if another lockout will happen, girzzlies future, if wemby, bronny and lebron could join together, and if 2017 and 18 title are the most meaningless titles
Have you ever thought of making videos on college basketball? Could be interesting
Id give it to cedric maxwell ngl.. more points and more efficient and mkre important in the biggest gane tbh
What's the point of bringing up Jerry West winning the award despite being on the losing team, if all the choices in the video still go to the winning team
Well this isn't the first video in the series, and the other videos of the series had the same rules and intro, and in a couple of those, there is actually guys who get the award while being on the losing team. This specific video just didn't have one.
ive never clicked a video so fast
People nowadays don't realize how good Joe dumars was or Worthy either. Been having a young guy in the comments on a diff video telling me that if Role player today van fleet played in the 80's/90's, he would be an all star every year.
It's a shame the disrespect towards these players from that era. I would put dumars D against 90% of the guards today and be comfortable with the performance.
1980s finals going to Kareem in my book. He was the best player and the main reason for 3 wins.
Can you bring back the versus series?
For me, Maxwell and Kareem keeped the award while in 80s, I would give the MVP to Kareem if we are honest about who was the best player on the court when we talk about stats.
Magic Johnson had better stats in 90% of the post seasons magic and Kareem played together
Kareem has an argument, but Maxwell doesn't.
@@jp3813 almost 18 points, almost 10 rebounds and 3 assists on 57% shooting, while Larry averaged only 15 points on 42% shooting which is very weak for his standards, he is their best player, he needs to average easily over 20 points and he was outscored by Maxwell soo Maxwell averaged 2,5 points more, he did some rebounding too and was much more efficient than Bird, 42 against 57%, the difference is 15% soo Maxwell easily deserve that award. Larry was simply i efficient player those series, INEFFICIENT, yeah, he averaged 15 rebounds and 7 assists, cogratulation, but this comparison is between one player who shot very inefficient from the field and another player who was extremely efficient from the field soo for me Maxwell's award is safe.
@@hristijandimitrovski8664 Inferior performance by Bird's standards, but still superior compared to Cedric's. Bird's Game Score average (which factors all of those stats) in that series was 15.9, while Cedric's was 14.8 per game.
@@jp3813 in this clip, his average was 17,7
Do the 60’s next
Yo do one for all nba teams
a video on Dream Team 2 (94 FIBA team)
10:33 im sure you mean he was the first person to achieve a triple double avg in the finals, but im pretty lebron has done this as well in 2017
Yeah you’re right, but I just meant it in terms of the time in which it would’ve taken place. If Larry had the Triple-Double, it would have been the first in NBA Finals history, and LeBron would later become the 2nd.
@@jonnyarnett yeah i thought that was what you meant, just thought id mention it, love the vids btw