FMVP is to give the best player in the finals, not to the so-called boss of the team

On July 27, in the basketball game, the selection of the finals MVP (FMVP) has always been the focus of hot discussion among fans and the media. The original intention of this award was to recognize the players who performed the best in the finals series, rather than simply awarding the team's "boss" or nominal core. However, in actual selections, sometimes controversy arises, and even triggers discussions about "whether FMVP should be given to the team boss." In fact, the FMVP selection criteria should be based on the player's actual performance in the finals, rather than his team status or regular season data.

### **FMVP's selection criteria should be based on performance**

FMVP's full name is "Finals Most Valuable Player", that is, "the most valuable player in the finals". Literally speaking, the selection criteria for this award should focus on the player's performance in the finals, not on his position in the team. The NBA official does not give a clear definition of the selection criteria for FMVP, but most of the previous selections are based on the following factors:

1. **Personal data**: basic data such as scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, blocks, as well as high-order data such as efficiency value (PER), real hit rate (TS%), etc.

2. **Key Performance**: Performance at critical moments that determine the outcome, such as final quarter scoring, winning ball, decisive performance on the defensive end, etc.

3. **Influence on the game**: Whether the game is dominated on both offense and defense, whether it makes it difficult for the opponent to limit, and whether it is to carry the team when teammates are in poor condition.

4. **Series stability**: Whether to maintain a high level throughout the series, rather than relying on one or two highlights.

If these standards are strictly followed, the FMVP should be awarded the best performing player in the finals, whether he is the "boss" of the team or not. However, the selection in reality is sometimes affected by factors such as team status and media impression scores, leading to the emergence of some controversial cases.

### **Historical Case: FMVP is not always the team leader**

Looking back at NBA history, FMVP is not always the absolute core of the team, but the player who truly performs best in the finals. The following cases can prove this:

1. ** In the 2015 Finals, the Warriors defeated the Cavaliers to win the championship. Stephen Curry, as the team's core, averaged 26 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game, but FMVP awarded Iguodala, who came on as a substitute but had a significant effect in defending LeBron James. This result caused great controversy, and many people believe that Curry's overall contribution is greater, but Iguodala's value on the defensive end and the outbreak of key battles (such as the 22 points in the G4) made him win the award.

2. **Kawhi Leonard in 2014 **

The Spurs beat the Heat to win the championship, and the team was Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, but the FMVP gave Leonard, who was only 22 years old. He averaged 17.8 points and 6.4 rebounds in the Finals, shot as high as 61% from the field and successfully limited LeBron James. Although Duncan and Parker have more comprehensive numbers, Leonard's performance in offense and defense has made him the best player in the series.

3. **Cedric Maxwell in 1981**

The Celtics won the championship in 1981, and Larry Bird was the absolute core of the team, but the FMVP gave it to Maxwell. He averaged 17.7 points and 9.5 rebounds in the finals and scored 28 points and 19 rebounds in the key G6 to help the team secure the victory.

These cases show that the selection of FMVP is not simply "to the team boss", but rather pays more attention to the actual contribution of players in the finals.

### **Why does the "team boss" mindset affect FMVP selection? **

Although the selection criteria for FMVP should be based on performance, there is still a tendency to "team bosses first" in reality, and the main reasons include:

1. **Impression score influence**: The media and fans often have higher expectations for the team's core, so they may subconsciously tend to choose more famous players during the selection.

2. **Data Bias**: Team cores usually have higher usage rates and may be more dominant in basic data, but higher-order data or defensive contributions may be ignored.

3. **Team Basketball Dilemma**: In some team-first teams (such as the Spurs and Warriors), the core players' data may not be as prominent as individual heroic teams (such as James during the Cavaliers), resulting in the possibility of FMVP being dispersed.

However, the real FMVP selection should return to its essence - that is, "who performs the best in the finals", rather than "who is the boss of the team".

### **How should FMVP selection be improved in the future? **

In order to avoid controversy, the selection of FMVP can be further optimized:

1. **Clear selection criteria**: The NBA can formulate clearer selection rules, such as referring to high-order data, performance at critical moments, defensive contributions, etc., to reduce the influence of subjective factors.

2. **Increase the diversity of judges**: The current FMVP is decided by media voting. In the future, players, coaches, data analysts and other perspectives can be introduced to make the selection more comprehensive.

3. ** Emphasize "value" rather than "status"**: The core of FMVP is "the most valuable" rather than "the most famous", and judges should pay more attention to the actual influence of players on the game.

### **Conclusion: FMVP should return to the essence of competition**

The original intention of FMVP was to commend the best players in the finals, rather than simply rewarding the team's signature stars. There have been several cases in history that this award can be awarded to non-core players as long as they perform well enough. In the future, the NBA and the media should evaluate the actual contribution of players more objectively to avoid letting the "team boss" thinking affect fairness. A true FMVP should be the player who plays the best performance on the highest stage.