'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwb/2gAIAQEAAAAAGY//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAE/9oACAECEAAAAAf/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAE/9oACAEDEAAAAE//xAAhEAACAgECBwAAAAAAAAAAAAACBAEDAAUSBgciMkFDgf/aAAgBAQABPwBnl/pUP0o2LvLrgVtzTJTTZcIbttYB86sLgxKSmVnW7KPWZU0xJD4nsz//xAAVEQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAP/aAAgBAgEBPwAb/8QAFhEAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEC/9oACAEDAQE/AKZ//9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
With the 2021 NBA Finals underway, every player that has made it this far will be watched closely to ascertain who will be crowned the 2021 NBA Finals MVP. While every player in the Finals is eligible for consideration, a select few are more likely to win the award.
The Phoenix Suns, who emerged victorious in the West, have already gone 1-0 up against the Eastern Conference champions Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021 NBA Finals. The Suns set the right tone for the rest of the seven-game series with a convincing 118-105 victory at the Talking Stick Resort Arena.
Whoever wins the NBA Finals MVP award will be the 32nd player to do so in NBA history as none of the players on either team have ever won the award previously. Michael Jordan holds the record for most NBA Finals MVP award wins with six, while LeBron James is the most recent recipient.
Jerry West won the inaugural NBA Finals MVP award in 1969 despite being on the losing team. However, subsequent awards have been strictly given to players who led their teams to victory.
On that note, let's look at the top five players that are the favorites to win the 2021 NBA Finals MVP award.
#5 Jrue Holiday
Although it will require Jrue Holiday to completely take over the series and win it for the Milwaukee Bucks, the veteran guard surely has the superstar qualities to win the 2021 NBA Finals MVP award.
Holiday stunned the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals, especially in Games 5 & 6, where Giannis Antetokounmpo was unavailable for selection through injury. But his performance in Game 1 was subpar. Although he is often lauded for his defensive acumen, he failed to shut down Chris Paul and the Suns.
There are still enough games in this series to redeem himself and Holiday will hope to get back into contention for the 2021 NBA Finals MVP award. However, recording numbers similar to the ten points he registered in Game 1 will simply not be enough.
#4 Khris Middleton
Khris Middleton has been sensational for the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021 NBA playoffs. However, it is a shame that those performances will not be considered to decide the 2021 NBA Finals MVP.
Middleton is responsible for keeping the Bucks' fire burning in this series, and he did so in the absence of Giannis. He tried to use his 29 points to spur his team to a victory but failed to pull off the comeback in Game 1.
While his NBA Finals MVP candidacy is not solid, he has a decent chance to turn the hearts of many. But first things first, Middleton needs to find a way to orchestrate a comeback in Game 2, with or without Giannis.
#3 Devin Booker
Devin Booker has a huge chance of winning the 2021 NBA Finals MVP award if he continues to play the same way he did in Game 1 of the 2021 finals. Booker and the Phoenix Suns dominated the game, with the Bucks' biggest lead coming immediately after tip-off when they went 3-0 in the game.
Booker took advantage of the Brook Lopez mismatch and recorded 27 points. Although he misfired a lot from the field, going 8 of 21 and 1 of 8 from 3-point range, he was perfect from the free-throw line.
He would certainly have to do a lot more to win the NBA Finals MVP award. Regardless, the NBA playoffs debutant has a solid foundation with how well he has started the series and will hope to now build on it.
#2 Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo can crank up the heat at any time, which is why he is one of the favorites to clinch the NBA Finals MVP award. The two-time regular season MVP knows exactly what to do to win the award, so rest assured we will witness dominant performances from the Greek Freak in the coming games.
Antetokounmpo recovered from a hyperextended knee injury after landing awkwardly in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Although his rivals have better headstarts in the race for the 2021 NBA Finals MVP award, there is still plenty of time for him to turn things around. The shouts for him winning the award will only be amplified if he can lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a comeback series victory.
While many questioned the decision, Giannis started the 2021 NBA Finals Game 1 and registered 20 points, 17 rebounds, and four assists. As the series progresses and he gets more comfortable with the knee, the forward will certainly put on displays that will solidify his case to win the NBA Finals MVP award.
#1 Chris Paul
The Phoenix Suns went in search of someone that could lead them to at least the NBA playoffs, but they find themselves currently leading the NBA Finals series 1-0. Although previous performances in the playoffs do not matter, Chris Paul's journey to get here and his continued domination has made him the likeliest candidate to win the 2021 NBA Finals MVP.
If the Phoenix Suns win the series, there will be no arguments against Paul being crowned the 2021 NBA Finals MVP. After battling several injuries in the playoffs throughout his 16-year career, Paul has made it to the NBA Finals for the first time and will want to make it count.
Paul will undoubtedly leave it all on the court as there is no excuse to fall short this time around. While there have been views suggesting he was robbed of the regular-season MVP award, this is the time for him to win something better, i.e., the NBA Finals MVP award.
The 36-year-old was the best player on the court by a distance in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Jrue Holiday failed to keep up with CP3, as he knocked down several of his famous mid-range jumpers, going 12 of 19 from the field and finishing the game with 32 points.
If the NBA Finals MVP award is to go out right now, Paul will most likely win it. However, there is a potential seven-game run which means that there is still a lot to play for and plenty of competition for CP3.
