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Warriors: Who is the REAL 2018 NBA Finals MVP?

By Andrew Ites

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: Kevin Durant #35 and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors react as Tyronn Lue of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on in the first half during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: Kevin Durant #35 and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors react as Tyronn Lue of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on in the first half during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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The most interesting question for the Warriors throughout this series was not whether they would win, it was who should take home the Finals MVP award.

The Warriors have two players on their team with three regular season MVP awards between them in Steph Curry and Kevin Durant.

Curry and KD both had some signature moments in their sweep of the Cavaliers, but Durant was named the Finals MVP for the second year in a row.

Many Golden State fans wanted Steph to win the award so he could fill that empty spot in his trophy case next to his two regular season MVP trophies and his three championship rings.

But KD topped Curry in nearly every box score statistic in this year’s Finals.

Durant ended the series with 28.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 2.3 blocks per game with an outstanding true shooting percentage of 65.4%.

Steph’s numbers were only slightly less impressive than KD’s with 27.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game with a true shooting percentage of 56%.

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Unfortunately, Curry’s abysmal performance in Game 3 cost him the Finals MVP this season.

Steph only managed to score 11 points on 3/16 from the field and 1/10 from three in Game 3. In Durant’s worst night of the series in Game 1, he still dropped 26 points on 8/22 from the floor with 9 rebounds and 6 assists.

Curry received four votes for the Finals MVP award compared to seven votes for Durant, but it was pretty clear that KD was more impactful on both ends of the floor considering Steph‘s off night in Game 3.

I think most NBA analysts would acknowledge Steph got robbed of the 2015 Finals MVP when it was given to Andre Iguodala.

Curry scored 26 points per game with 6.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds and a strong true shooting percentage of 58.5%.

While Iguodala handled his defensive assignment on LeBron fairly well, his numbers were not even close to Steph’s during that series.

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If we could go back in time and give Steph that Finals MVP, it wouldn’t be so devastating for Warriors fans to see KD win the award over Curry two years in a row.

Steph’s trophy case at home is still pretty full, and I’m sure he’s not shedding any tears over missing out on another Finals MVP award.

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