Reflecting on the 2024 NBA Finals' MVP Contenders and Winner

The anticipation around the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks generated much excitement, particularly in predictions for the NBA Finals MVP. Although Nikola Jokić was ultimately the season's MVP, it's worth examining the strong candidates who had compelling chances to secure the award. With the Celtics winning against the Mavericks, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Jrue Holiday all had strong seasons.

Jaylen Brown, with strong odds at +650, was a noteworthy contender. Brown's Eastern Conference Finals MVP win over Jayson Tatum highlighted his remarkable performance under pressure. Entering the Finals, Brown had an implied probability of 13.33% to win the MVP award compared to Tatum's 53.49%. Despite Tatum being favored, Brown's postseason stats closely matched his. He maintained shooting over 50% from the field in 11 out of his 14 games. Had he continued this streak in the finals and overshadowed Tatum's scoring struggles, Brown might have swung the consensus in his favor.

Jayson Tatum was the leading candidate for the Finals MVP heading into the series. While his shooting performance was inconsistent, Tatum's contributions in rebounding and passing were invaluable.

JRue Holiday presented an interesting dark horse option with odds at +5000. His performance in recent playoff games had been stellar, averaging 17.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game since Game 3 against Cleveland in the second round. Additionally, Holiday's shooting efficiency stood out, with 59.2% from the field and 45% from beyond the arc. Holiday's potential MVP case was also bolstered by his defensive capabilities. By taking on and potentially neutralizing Dallas' star player, Luka Doncic, Holiday could have mirrored past MVPs such as Andre Iguodala and Kawhi Leonard, who earned their accolades through exceptional defensive efforts against top opponents.

Although Nikola Jokić ultimately secured the season MVP award for his outstanding performance throughout the year, players like Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Jrue Holiday were all legitimate contenders for the NBA Finals MVP title during a highly competitive series between Boston and Dallas. Each brought unique strengths to their teams, making them worthy of close consideration and demonstrating just how unpredictable and thrilling basketball can be at its highest level.