The lowest draft picks to win Finals MVP
Earlier this week, when the Denver Nuggets clinched the NBA title, Nikola Jokic made history in several ways. He became the first center to receive the Finals MVP award since Shaquille O’Neal in 2002 and the lowest draft pick ever with that accolade – and it’s not even that close. The Serbian big man was selected in the 2014 draft at No. 41, a full 12 spots lower than where Dennis Johnson, the 1979 Finals MVP, was chosen in 1976.
1. Nikola Jokic (2023)
Draft position: No. 41 in 2014
Players selected before him: Spencer Dinwiddie, Jerami Grant, Glenn Robinson III
2. Dennis Johnson (1976)
Draft position: No. 29 in 1976
Players selected before him: Jacky Dorsey, Phil Hicks, Bob Carrington
3. Tony Parker (2007)
Draft position: No. 28 in 2001
Players selected before him: Gerald Wallace, Samuel Dalembert, Jamaal Tinsley
4. Joe Dumars (1989)
Draft position: No. 18 in 1985
Players selected before him: Blair Rasmussen, Bill Wenninghton, Uwe Blab
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo (2021)
Draft position: No. 15 in 2013
Players selected before him: Steven Adams, Kelly Olynyk, Shabazz Muhammad
5. Kawhi Leonard (2019)
Draft position: No. 15 in 2011
Players selected before him: Alec Burks, Markieff Morris, Marcus Morris
7. Kobe Bryant (2009, 2010)
Draft position: No. 13 in 1996
Players selected before him: Erick Dampier, Todd Fuller, Vitaly Potapenko
8. Cedric Maxwell (1981)
Draft position: No. 12 in 1977
Players selected before him: Tom LaGarde, Ray Williams, Ernie Grunfeld
9. Paul Pierce (2008)
Draft position: No. 10 in 1998
Players selected before him: Jason Williams, Larry Hughes, Dirk Nowitzki
9. Willis Reed (1970, 1973)
Draft position: No. 10 in 1964
Players selected before him: Jeff Mullins, Barry Kramer, Mel Counts
11. Andre Iguodala (2015)
Draft position: No. 9 in 2004
Players selected before him: Josh Childress, Luol Deng, Rafael Araujo
11. Dirk Nowitzki (2011)
Draft position: No. 9 in 1998
Players selected before him: Robert Traylor, Jason Williams, Larry Hughes
11. Jo Jo White (1976)
Draft position: No. 9 in 1969
Players selected before him: Bingo Smith, Bob Portman, Herm Gilliam
11. John Havlicek (1974)
Draft position: No. 9 in 1962
Players selected before him: Len Chappell, Wayne Hightower, Leroy Ellis
15. Stephen Curry (2022)
Draft position: No. 7 in 2009
Players selected before him: Tyreke Evans, Ricky Rubio, Jonny Flynn
16. Larry Bird (1984, 1986)
Draft position: No. 6 in 1978
Players selected before him: Rick Robey, Michael Ray Richardson, Purvis Short
17. Dwyane Wade (2006)
Draft position: No. 5 in 2003
Players selected before him: Darko Milicic, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh
18. Rick Barry (1975)
Draft position: No. 4 in 1965
Players selected before him: Fred Hetzel, Bill Bradley, Bill Buntin
