| Year | Finals MVP | Team |
| 1968-69 | Jerry West | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1969-70 | Willis Reed | New York Knicks |
| 1970-71 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1971-72 | Wilt Chamberlain | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1972-73 | Willis Reed | New York Knicks |
| 1973-74 | John Havlicek | Boston Celtics |
| 1974-75 | Rick Barry | Golden State Warriors |
| 1975-76 | Jo Jo White | Boston Celtics |
| 1976-77 | Bill Walton | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1977-78 | Wes Unseld | Washington Bullets |
| 1978-79 | Dennis Johnson | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1979-80 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1980-81 | Cedric Maxwell | Boston Celtics |
| 1981-82 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1982-83 | Moses Malone | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1983-84 | Larry Bird | Boston Celtics |
| 1984-85 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1985-86 | Larry Bird | Boston Celtics |
| 1986-87 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1987-88 | James Worthy | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1988-89 | Joe Dumars | Detroit Pistons |
| 1989-90 | Isiah Thomas | Detroit Pistons |
| 1990-91 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1991-92 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1992-93 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1993-94 | Hakeem Olajuwon | Houston Rockets |
| 1994-95 | Hakeem Olajuwon | Houston Rockets |
| 1995-96 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1996-97 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1997-98 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1998-99 | Tim Duncan | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1999-00 | Shaquille O'Neal | Los Angeles Lakers |