Milwaukee Bucks

MILWAUKEE (AP) &mdash; Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points while Bobby Portis finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Milwaukee Bucks over the Golden State Warriors 128-111 Tuesday night in a matchup of the NBA&rsquo;s last two champions.
Stephen Curry scored 20 points despite missing seven of 10 3-point attempts. Jordan Poole added 18 and Klay Thompson 14 for Golden State.
The Warriors dropped their third straight road game and fell to 2-12 away from home this season. The defending NBA champions have allowed at least 114 points in every road game this season.
&ldquo;Our defense has been bad on the road,&rdquo; Golden State coach Steve Kerr said. "For whatever reason, the splits are dramatic. Our defense is good at home and bad on the road.&rdquo;
Looking to bounce back from a Sunday night loss at Houston in which they were held to 92 points &ndash; their second-lowest total in a game this season &ndash; the Bucks made 45 of 82 shots (54.9%).
Portis scored six points and grabbed a pair of rebounds during his first three minutes on the floor, sparking a 16-6 run that helped the Bucks take a 38-27 lead after one quarter.
&ldquo;Offensively, we needed to find somebody and he really stepped up,&rdquo; Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. &ldquo;It helped set the tone for our big guys on both ends of the court.&rdquo;
The Warriors trailed 64-52 at the break. Golden State stayed close by making 11 3s in the opening half, and hit 20 of 50 3-point tries in the game.
An 8-2 run to open the second half helped Milwaukee create some separation. Khris Middleton pushed the Bucks&rsquo; lead to 21 with a 3-pointer with 7:05 left in the quarter.
&ldquo;It's fun to play in games like that,&rdquo; Portis said. &ldquo;It's fun to go out there and compete against the best.&rdquo;
FAN EJECTED
A fan was ejected following a complaint by Warriors star Draymond Green, and the Bucks said they are investigating the incident and consulting with the NBA. Security personnel removed the man, who was sitting a few rows beyond the baseline, during a stop in play with 5:19 left in the third quarter.
The fan said &ldquo;some threatening stuff to my life,&rdquo; Green said.
&ldquo;I was this close to really going back and diving all the way in, but just went back and told the official. And when I told the official, he said, he&rsquo;s got to get out of here.
&ldquo;You just hope it gets to the point to where these leagues can work with legislators to implement laws, because that&rsquo;s the only thing that&rsquo;s going to ultimately correct the issue, is if you know something real is going to happen to you,&rdquo; Green said.
&ldquo;Under the referee&rsquo;s discretion, we are investigating the situation and we are conferring with the NBA," the Bucks said in a statement.
GIANNIS' MANY MINUTES
Antetokounmpo was in the game for 29 minutes and has now played 22,113 minutes in a Bucks uniform, more than any other player in franchise history. He passed Bob Dandridge, who had 22,094.
&ldquo;Playing the most minutes in a Bucks jersey ever, that&rsquo;s huge,&rdquo; Antetokounmpo said. &ldquo;It doesn&rsquo;t matter what you&rsquo;ve done, when you feel like you&rsquo;ve contributed to a team, to the history of this team, it&rsquo;s an honor. It&rsquo;s a great accomplishment.&rdquo;
The 28-year-old also holds the all-time franchise mark in points, blocks, free throws and triple-doubles while ranking second in field goals, assists and rebounds and third in games played, steals and free throw percentage.
TIP-INS
Warriors: With the game out of hand and the Warriors set to play again Wednesday night, Kerr cleared his bench early in the fourth quarter. That allowed Patrick Baldwin Jr. to get some playing time in the city where he was a prep standout and spent one season at UW-Milwaukee before going to Golden State with the 28th pick in last summer's draft. Baldwin scored six points on a pair of 3s.
Bucks: Middleton was back in Milwaukee&rsquo;s starting lineup after being held to just six minutes Sunday at Houston because of an ankle injury. ... The Bucks were without point guard Jrue Holiday, who was unavailable because of a non-COVID illness. Milwaukee got Wesley Matthews back from the league&rsquo;s Health and Safety protocols earlier in the day.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points to lead the Milwaukee Bucks over the Golden State Warriors 128-111.

Antetokounmpo scores 30, Bucks extend Warriors' road woes

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the list of Hall of Famers scheduled to present the Class of 2022 at the Enshrinement Ceremony to be held Saturday, September 10 at Symphony Hall. More than 50 Hall of Famers are expected to be in attendance for the ceremony, including all presenters.
Members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2022 were asked to select previous inductees to accompany and present them to their peers. The choice is solely the decision of the incoming Hall of Famers, or their family members if recognized posthumously.
This year&rsquo;s class includes nine honorees from the North American and Women&rsquo;s committees: two-time NBA All-Star and four-time NBA champion Manu Ginobili, five-time NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway, two-time NCAA National Coach of the Year Bob Huggins, the NBA&rsquo;s sixth-winningest coach of all-time George Karl and longtime NBA referee Hugh Evans. On the women&rsquo;s side, the Hall of Fame is proud to welcome five-time WNBA All-Star, three-time WNBA Champion, and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Lindsay Whalen, four-time WNBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Swin Cash and NCAA national champion and WNBA Coach of the Year Marianne Stanley.
Distinguished committees focused on preserving all areas from the game also selected eight directly elected enshrinees. They include Lou Hudson from the Veterans Committee, Larry Costello and Del Harris from the Contributor Committee, Theresa Shank-Grentz from the Women&rsquo;s Veterans Committee, Radivoj Korac from the International Committee, and Wyatt &ldquo;Sonny&rdquo; Boswell, Inman Jackson, and Albert &ldquo;Runt&rdquo; Pullins from the Early African American Pioneers Committee. &nbsp;
The 2022 Hall of Fame Inductees and Presenters:
Tim Hardaway, presented by Isiah Thomas (&rsquo;00), Mitch Richmond (&lsquo;14), Chris Mullin (&lsquo;11), Yolanda Griffith (&lsquo;21), Nate Archibald (&lsquo;91)
Manu Ginobili, presented by Tim Duncan (&rsquo;20)
Lindsay Whalen, presented by Dawn Staley (&lsquo;13), Charles Barkley (&rsquo;06) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Swin Cash, presented by Tamika Catchings (&lsquo;20), Teresa Weatherspoon (&lsquo;19), Tina Thompson (&lsquo;18), Isiah Thomas (&rsquo;00), Geno Auriemma (&lsquo;06)
Bob Huggins, presented by Jerry West (&lsquo;80), Rod Thorn (&lsquo;18)
George Karl, presented by Roy Williams (&lsquo;07), Gary Payton (&lsquo;13), Bobby Jones (&lsquo;19)
Marianne Stanley, presented by Cathy Rush (&lsquo;08), Lisa Leslie (&lsquo;15), Nancy Lieberman (&lsquo;96)
Hugh Evans, presented by Reggie Miller (&lsquo;12), George Gervin (&lsquo;96)
Theresa Shank-Grentz, presented by Cathy Rush (&lsquo;08), Charles Barkley (&rsquo;06), Vivian Stringer (&lsquo;09)
Del Harris, presented by Nancy Lieberman (&lsquo;96), John Calipari (&lsquo;15), Sidney Moncrief (&lsquo;19)
Lou Hudson, presented by Spencer Haywood (&lsquo;15), Jamaal Wilkes (&lsquo;12)
Larry Costello, presented by Billy Cunningham (&lsquo;86), Wayne Embry (&lsquo;99), Bob Dandridge (&rsquo;21)
Radivoj Korac, presented by Spencer Haywood (&lsquo;15) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Tickets for the 2022 Enshrinement Ceremony and all Enshrinement events are on sale now and available online at www.hoophall.com or by calling the Basketball Hall of Fame at (413) 231-5513.
For more information and the latest updates, visit http://www.hoophall.com/Enshrinement or follow @hoophall on Twitter and Instagram.
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level &ndash; men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game&rsquo;s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit www.hoophall.com, follow @hoophall #22HoopClass or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced the list of Hall of Famers scheduled to present the Class of 2022.

Basketball Hall of Fame reveals 2022 Enshrinement Ceremony presenters

Headlined by Chris Webber and Paul Pierce, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame welcomed its newest inductees by way of the Class of 2021 on Saturday evening.
To celebrate such a momentous night, Basketball News has compiled the full speeches for each addition to the prestigious Hall-of-Fame club.
Chris Webber
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/21HoopClass?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#21HoopClass</a> enshrinee, Chris Webber. <a href="https://t.co/hmuQAtXlka">pic.twitter.com/hmuQAtXlka</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1436831849888821251?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
Paul Pierce 
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/21HoopClass?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#21HoopClass</a> enshrinee, Paul Pierce. <a href="https://t.co/jPZXqlxQgT">pic.twitter.com/jPZXqlxQgT</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1436870056064036868?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
Chris Bosh
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/21HoopClass?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#21HoopClass</a> enshrinee, Chris Bosh. <a href="https://t.co/20iV5EHi64">pic.twitter.com/20iV5EHi64</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1436876737485365250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
Toni Kukoc
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/21HoopClass?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#21HoopClass</a> enshrinee, Toni Kukoc. <a href="https://t.co/lIIkCMqX9C">pic.twitter.com/lIIkCMqX9C</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1436842112578998273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
Ben Wallace
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/21HoopClass?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#21HoopClass</a> enshrinee, Ben Wallace. <a href="https://t.co/cGNYiPsTng">pic.twitter.com/cGNYiPsTng</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1436853100833386496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2021</a>
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Rick Adelman
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/21HoopClass?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#21HoopClass</a> enshrinee, Rick Adelman. <a href="https://t.co/m9dxjIyj1o">pic.twitter.com/m9dxjIyj1o</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1436849739593666561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
Yolanda Griffith
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/21HoopClass?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#21HoopClass</a> enshrinee, Yolanda Griffith. <a href="https://t.co/EvPIb8d6KC">pic.twitter.com/EvPIb8d6KC</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1436845555242704905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
Bill Russell
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/21HoopClass?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#21HoopClass</a> enshrinee, Bill Russell. <a href="https://t.co/Vv3ibAe13Q">pic.twitter.com/Vv3ibAe13Q</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1436841113751543808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2021</a>
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Jay Wright
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Jay Wright is now officially an enshrined member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/21HoopClass?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#21HoopClass</a> <a href="https://t.co/PV1SEkOKb7">pic.twitter.com/PV1SEkOKb7</a>
&mdash; Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) <a href="https://twitter.com/Hoophall/status/1436862802048786432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
Howard Garfinkel
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Howard Garfinkel is now officially an enshrined member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/21HoopClass?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#21HoopClass</a>
&mdash; Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) <a href="https://twitter.com/Hoophall/status/1436849122372374533?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
Val Ackerman
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/21HoopClass?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#21HoopClass</a> enshrinee, Val Ackerman. <a href="https://t.co/1UgEBqZg33">pic.twitter.com/1UgEBqZg33</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1436836715323432960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
Lauren Jackson
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/21HoopClass?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#21HoopClass</a> enshrinee, Lauren Jackson. <a href="https://t.co/vn5anUdlYO">pic.twitter.com/vn5anUdlYO</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1436874209368711169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2021</a>
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Bob Dandridge
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/21HoopClass?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#21HoopClass</a> enshrinee, Bob Dandridge. <a href="https://t.co/gBAjtA8gEx">pic.twitter.com/gBAjtA8gEx</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1436863876302348288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
Pearl Moore
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Pearl Moore is the greatest scorer in the HISTORY of women&rsquo;s college basketball - Averaged 30 PTS per game in an era that didn&rsquo;t have a 3-point shot. - Scored in double figures in every college game she played in. - Scored 4,061 points in her collegiate career. Hall of Famer ✅ <a href="https://t.co/Vz3DnZFeSW">pic.twitter.com/Vz3DnZFeSW</a>
&mdash; The Undefeated (@TheUndefeated) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheUndefeated/status/1436857929609658373?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Clarence "Fats" Jenkins
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Recognized posthumously is Clarence &ldquo;Fats&rdquo; Jenkins, captain of the legendary New York Rens, 8-time Colored Basketball World Champion in the 1920&rsquo;s and 30&rsquo;s, and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/21HoopClass?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#21HoopClass</a> honoree. <a href="https://t.co/yBsm8xASUn">pic.twitter.com/yBsm8xASUn</a>
&mdash; Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) <a href="https://twitter.com/Hoophall/status/1393954872991567875?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Cotton Fitzsimmons
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/21HoopClass?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#21HoopClass</a> enshrinee, Cotton Fitzsimmons. <a href="https://t.co/p5AfdXQTUf">pic.twitter.com/p5AfdXQTUf</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1436858182811504640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2021</a>
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Check out all of the speeches as the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame welcomed the Class of 2021 inductees on Saturday.

Basketball Hall of Fame honors Class of 2021 inductees: Full speeches

Former Milwaukee Bucks players Tim Thomas, Marcus Fizer, Todd Day and Bob Dandridge discuss the team's 2021 NBA championship.

Roundtable: Former Milwaukee Bucks players discuss championship

MILWAUKEE (AP) &mdash; Khris Middleton is an All-Star with unwavering confidence in his shot, always believing that no matter how poorly he starts that he can turn things around.
&ldquo;Khris has no fear and he never has,&rdquo; Milwaukee guard Jrue Holiday said.
Middleton&rsquo;s big shots &mdash; and throw in Giannis Antetokounmpo&rsquo;s big block &mdash; may have turned around the course of these NBA Finals.
Middleton scored 40 points, including 10 straight for the Bucks down the stretch to send them past the Phoenix Suns, 109-103 on Wednesday night to tie the series 2-2.
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Khris Middleton came up big in the final minutes of Game 4 🔥 He led the Bucks in scoring with 40 Pts 💪 <a href="https://t.co/Gijd1XtGZp">pic.twitter.com/Gijd1XtGZp</a>
&mdash; ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1415517579657965569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2021</a></blockquote>

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&ldquo;We wanted this bad and the team showed it tonight,&rdquo; Antetokounmpo said.
Middleton&rsquo;s hot hand and a big block from Antetokounmpo&nbsp;gave the Bucks their second-straight victory in the first close game of the series.
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Giannis' HUGE BLOCK helps seal the <a href="https://twitter.com/Bucks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Bucks</a> Game 4 win! 🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThatsGame?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ThatsGame</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAFinals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAFinals</a> tied at 2-2.. Game 5 is Saturday at 9pm/et on ABC. <a href="https://t.co/aanNuTUtlF">pic.twitter.com/aanNuTUtlF</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1415516905847283712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Antetokounmpo had 26 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. His streak of 40-point games ended at two but the only number that matters for the Bucks is on the series scoreboard.
Devin Booker scored 42 points for the Suns, but his foul trouble cost them a chance to build a big lead in the second half. Chris Paul struggled through a 5-for-13 night, finishing with 10 points and five turnovers.
Game 5 is Saturday night in Phoenix.
&ldquo;This is a tough one but we&rsquo;ve got to bounce back,&rdquo; Paul said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s why we fought all season to get home court.&rdquo;
Phoenix led by two with two-and-a-half minutes left before Middleton made the next two baskets to give Milwaukee a 101-99 edge with 1:28 to play. It appeared the Suns would tie it with a lob pass to center Deandre Ayton but Antetokounmpo swooped in to block it, flexing his muscles to the crowd behind the basket as the Bucks broke the other way on the fast break.
&ldquo;That&rsquo;s an NBA Finals special moment right there, and we&rsquo;re going to need more of them,&rdquo; Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said.
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Middleton missed a couple of jumpersm but Paul lost the ball after the second one when he slipped and fell down while dribbling. That sent Middleton off for a layup and he followed with four free throws to make it 107-101.
&ldquo;Nobody caved,&rdquo; Middleton said. &ldquo;We stayed with it.&rdquo;
Brook Lopez had 14 points for the Bucks and Holiday added 13 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. He shot only 4 for 20, but his defense helped knock Paul off his game.
Before Middleton&rsquo;s run, it appeared it was going to be Booker&rsquo;s night. He bounced back in a big way from a 3-for-14 night in Game 3 with his third 40-point game of this postseason.
But he had to spend portions of the third and fourth quarters on the bench after picking up fouls and his teammates couldn&rsquo;t handle things without him.
With the leaders of their only title team in the arena, the Bucks improved to 9-1 at home in the playoffs. They are trying to overcome a 2-0 deficit for the second time in this postseason.
The Suns never got more than two wins in their two previous trips to the NBA Finals but it seemed they were finally headed there Wednesday. Booker had a big finish to the third quarter to send them to the fourth leading 82-76, but he picked up his fifth foul barely a minute into the period and sat for about five minutes.
The Bucks trimmed only three points off the lead before he returned midway through the fourth, but Middleton made sure they surged ahead when it mattered.
&ldquo;When you have that kind of lead in the fourth, if we can just hold on to the ball and get good possessions, you feel like you can at least hold it there,&rdquo; Suns coach Monty Williams said.
Antetokounmpo had dominated the previous game with his offense, but the 2020 Defensive Player of the Year made his biggest mark on this game on the other end of the floor.
Perhaps sensing the pressure, both teams fumbled the ball around in the early going, diving on the floor in desperate attempts to save it. The Bucks turned what looked like lost possessions into baskets that way in the first quarter, giving them a boost while their outside shooting was off.
The Bucks, who had a big second quarter in Game 3, had another nice stretch midway through this one with an 8-0 run. That gave them a four-point lead and the margin stayed right around there, with the teams trading the lead, until Middleton&rsquo;s 3-pointer made it 52-all at the break.
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TIP-INS
Suns: Booker has 542 points, most ever for a player in his first postseason. Rick Barry scored 521 in 1967. ... Jae Crowder scored 15 points.
Bucks: Milwaukee shot just 7 for 29 (24%) from 3-point range. ... Pat Connaughton had 11 points and nine rebounds.
BEST OF THE BUCKS
Bucks legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson sat next to each other and were given a loud ovation when shown during the first half.&nbsp;
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson, and Jon McGlocklin from the 1971 Championship <a href="https://twitter.com/Bucks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Bucks</a> team are ready for Game 4 👏 <a href="https://t.co/pPsUZwnPYi">pic.twitter.com/pPsUZwnPYi</a>
&mdash; NBA TV (@NBATV) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1415482424771833857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Bob Dandridge and Jon McGlocklin were the other members of the Bucks&rsquo; only NBA championship team who were at the game. Marques Johnson and Michael Redd were also in attendance.

Khris Middleton scored 40 points to defeat the Phoenix Suns, 109-103, on Wednesday night in Game 4. The series is now tied at 2-2.

Khris Middleton sends Bucks past Suns to tie NBA Finals at 2-2

The Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP award is often one of the most confusing additions to a player's legacy.
Logically, it doesn't make much sense to apply so much weight to an award tied a tiny seven-game sample size at most. But Finals MVP recognizes the ability to elevate one's game to new heights while on the greatest basketball stage in the world. It's a touchstone for the series, and that season, and its place in the history of the NBA.&nbsp;
But the small sample also allows some players to make a surprising mark on a Finals. These five award-winners may not have been the odds-on favorite entering the showdown, but they all took command in high-stakes moments and became X-factors for their respective franchises. Though these are the most "unlikely" Finals MVP winners, all of them deserve praise for contributing to success.
Magic Johnson, 1980 Los Angeles Lakers
When Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was ruled out for Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals with an ankle injury, the Lakers had to turn to one rookie point guard from Michigan State to bring home the title. Magic Johnson was less than a year removed from being selected first overall, but was already blazing his trail as a basketball legend.&nbsp;
In that pivotal Game 6, Johnson put up 42 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals -- as the team's center -- in a 123-107 championship-clinching win over the Philadelphia 76ers. At age 20, he is still the youngest Finals MVP winner in league history and the only rookie to receive the award. Johnson's star would only continue to rise; he took home three Finals MVP trophies in his illustrious career.
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Jerry West, 1969 Los Angeles Lakers
Only one player has ever won Finals MVP as the leader of a losing franchise. Ironically, it came in the first year of the award, and even as trophy namesake Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics won in seven games. But it's tough to go against West's unreal series, in which he averaged 37.9 points (without a three-point line!), 7.4 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game.
West scored 53 points in the Lakers' Game 1 victory and 42 points in the 108-106 Game 7 loss. He beat out John Havlicek, who put up 28.3 points and 11.0 rebounds per game for Boston, to win the award. I'd bet against seeing another losing MVP winner for now, unless they can put up the same gaudy numbers as West.
Cedric Maxwell, 1981 Boston Celtics
Maxwell is the lone winner before 2000 to not be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. During his 11-year career, the small forward made an impact as a dynamic scorer and rebounder, but never made an All-Star team or averaged over 20 points per game.&nbsp;
But Maxwell did capitalize on a sluggish Finals between the Celtics and Houston Rockets. As a 25-year-old, he put up a team-high 17.7 points to go with 9.5 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game. Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish were all on the roster, but all three were still growing into their roles as a Big Three. Maxwell carried the torch in advance while helping hold Houston to just 38% shooting as a team during the series.
Andre Iguodala, 2015 Golden State Warriors
During the 2014-15 regular season, Iguodala was no more than a serviceable bench piece for the Warriors, averaging just 7.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. But he transformed in the Finals, putting up 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists while helping the Warriors begin their dynasty with the 2015 championship.
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6 YEARS AGO, The Golden State Warriors won the title &amp; Andre Iguodala took home Finals MVP!<a href="https://t.co/LjXLhg1HOa">pic.twitter.com/LjXLhg1HOa</a>
&mdash; Fadeaway World (@FadeawayWorld) <a href="https://twitter.com/FadeawayWorld/status/1405140602744836109?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2021</a></blockquote>

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There's skepticism around this award, as Warriors superstar Stephen Curry also dropped 26.0 points, 6.3 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game in the series. But Iguodala was the front man for defending LeBron James, and led a Warriors fortress that kept the Cavaliers from surpassing 100 points in any game. Both Curry and Iguodala deserve praise for delivering Oakland a title.&nbsp;
Wes Unseld, 1978 Washington Bullets
Of all the awards handed out, this one stumps me. Unseld was no-doubt an amazing NBA player, a well-deserved Hall-of-Famer and a key piece for the Bullets. But the power forward won Finals MVP in 1978 while averaging just 9.0 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. Scoring isn't the only way to impact the game, but Unseld was seventh on his team in that category, and others such as Elvin Hayes and Bob Dandridge consistently stepped up in the seven-game series win over the Seattle SuperSonics.
In fairness to Unseld, he is one of the supreme connectors in league history. Unseld's play often transcended the box score, which was especially limited back in the 1970s, and his defense against Jack Sikma and the SuperSonics was notable. It's just such an outlier from other MVP-caliber performances. Hayes and Dandridge each shouldered the scoring load and pushed Washington ahead in some gritty contests.

Throughout NBA history, some surprising names have left their mark and won the Finals MVP award, writes Ethan Fuller.

Who were the most unlikely Finals MVP winners in NBA history?

2021 Basketball Hall of Fame Class:&nbsp;
Players: Paul Pierce, Chris Bosh, Chris Webber, Ben Wallace; Coaches: Rick Adelman, Jay Wright, Bill Russell. &nbsp;
WNBA: Yolanda Griffith, Lauren Jackson.
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1393952640707477510" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter)</a>
ANALYSIS: Wojnarowski added the 2021 Basketball Hall of Fame Class would include the following contributors and committees:
Contributors: Val Ackerman, Cotton Fitzsimmons, Howard Garfinkel; Veteran&rsquo;s Committee: Bob Dandridge.
Women&rsquo;s Veteran Committee: Pearl Moore; Early African-American Pioneers: Clarence Jenkins.
International Committee: Toni Kukoc.

Chris Webber and Paul Pierce headline the 2021 Basketball Hall of Fame Class.