Ranking every NBA Finals MVP in Los Angeles Lakers history
By Will Eudy
6. Wilt Chamberlain
Finals MVP: 1972
After spending much of his first 10 years in the NBA in Philadelphia, Wilt Chamberlain rode out the latter stages of his career with the Lakers. Winning his third consecutive MVP award with the 76ers in 1968, Wilt was traded to LA prior to the 1968-69 season.
He would finish out the final five years of his NBA career as a Laker, helping the Lake Show reach the Finals in 1969, 1970, 1972, and 1973. In ’72, he claimed the Finals MVP as LA took down the New York Knicks four games to one.
Wilt Chamberlain was a seven-time NBA scoring champion and put up some of the most ridiculous stat lines in league history, but he was suffering from a broken hand during the ’72 Finals. Add in the fact that he was getting up there in age at 35, and it makes sense that he was actually outscored by both Jerry West and Gail Goodrich in the series.
But even while playing through a major injury to his dominant hand, Wilt put up a virtuoso performance in Game 5. He led the Lakers with 24 points and 29 rebounds to clinch the second championship of his career, along with his first Finals MVP.
While his numbers from this series may not appear gaudy at first glance, Wilt’s Finals MVP gets the edge over West and Worthy here after factoring in his crucial injury. Wilt’s was also the first Finals MVP award given in a Lakers Finals victory.