Former Boston Celtics star holds rare place in NBA history, Andre Iguodala might join him

Winning the NBA Finals MVP is a prestigious achievement, signifying a player performed at their peak during the championship series. The award has a unique history, including Jerry West winning it on the losing team in 1969 and Michael Jordan holding the record with six wins. LeBron James is the only player to win it with three different teams.

Despite its prestige, only one eligible Finals MVP winner, Cedric Maxwell, has not been inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Maxwell, who played for the Boston Celtics, averaged 13.7 points and 6.6 rebounds over eight seasons, winning two championships. He earned the 1981 Finals MVP after outscoring Larry Bird and leading the Celtics to victory over the Houston Rockets in six games. His exclusion from the Hall of Fame is largely attributed to never being selected to an All-Star Game, making him the only Finals MVP winner without that honor.

Most other Finals MVPs are either already enshrined or considered locks for future induction. Chauncey Billups, the most recent eligible winner, was inducted in 2024. Current stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaylen Brown, Nikola Jokic, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, and Kevin Durant are all expected to make the Hall of Fame. Andre Iguodala, the 2015 Finals MVP, has only a 12.69% probability according to Basketball-Reference's model, potentially making him the second Finals MVP not inducted.

Iguodala's case is debated; his 2015 Finals MVP win over Stephen Curry remains controversial, even acknowledged by Iguodala himself. However, factors like his nearly two-decade career as a versatile two-way player, four NBA championships, and the nostalgic appeal of the Golden State Warriors' "Splash Brothers" era could improve his chances. If Iguodala is not inducted, Maxwell will remain the sole eligible Finals MVP outside the Hall of Fame, despite the Basketball Hall of Fame being considered the easiest major sports hall to enter.