Fansided

The best champions to never win NBA Finals MVP

By Micah Wimmer

23 April 2013: Boston Celtics center Kevin Garnett (5) during game two of the first round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY The Knicks defeated the Celtics 87-71 to lead the series 2-0. (Photo by Rich Kane/Icon SMI/Corbis via Getty Images)
23 April 2013: Boston Celtics center Kevin Garnett (5) during game two of the first round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY The Knicks defeated the Celtics 87-71 to lead the series 2-0. (Photo by Rich Kane/Icon SMI/Corbis via Getty Images) /
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23 April 2013: Boston Celtics center Kevin Garnett (5) during game two of the first round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY The Knicks defeated the Celtics 87-71 to lead the series 2-0. (Photo by Rich Kane/Icon SMI/Corbis via Getty Images)
23 April 2013: Boston Celtics center Kevin Garnett (5) during game two of the first round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY The Knicks defeated the Celtics 87-71 to lead the series 2-0. (Photo by Rich Kane/Icon SMI/Corbis via Getty Images) /

Kevin Garnett

The offseason additions of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen immediately transformed the 24-58 Celtics of the previous year into championship contenders who went 66-16 the next season, going on to defeat the Lakers in the Finals. Garnett was not as dominant on that team as he had been on the Timberwolves, where had been the lone star, winning league MVP in 2004 after leading the league in total points, rebounds, and win shares.

On the Celtics, he became more of a defensive anchor than an all around destroyer of worlds, being voted Defensive Player of the Year that championship season. In 2008, though — the only championship the Celtics Big-3 would win together — it was Paul Pierce who would be named Finals MVP after leading the Celtics in scoring as well as nearly leading the team in assists.

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