The best champions to never win NBA Finals MVP

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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NEW YORK, NY – CIRCA 1970’s: Oscar Robertson (R) and Bob Dandridge(L) of the Milwaukee Bucks sits on the bench before they play the New York Knickerbockers in an early circa 1970’s NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. Oscar Robertson played for the Bucks from 1970 – 74, Dandridge from 1969-77, 81-82. (Photo by Focus On Sport/Getty Images) /

Oscar Robertson

Oscar Robertson spent most of his career trying in vain to unseat the Boston Celtics as Eastern Division champions, never even managing to make the NBA Finals until his eleventh season in the NBA — his first as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks. Following the retirement of Celtics great Bill Russell, Lew Alcindor of the Bucks — soon to change his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — quickly became the most dominant center in the NBA, leading the Bucks to trade for Robertson in the hopes of winning a title. Unsurprisingly, they quickly did just that as the Bucks won the NBA Championship that season, sweeping the Baltimore Bullets. While Robertson was still an All-NBA player, the torch had been passed to Alcindor, who won Finals MVP after averaging 27 points and 18 rebounds for the series. Robertson would again make the Finals as a Buck in 1974, his final season, although they lost in 7 games to the Celtics. While he was not able to go out as a champion, Robertson nevertheless remains one of the all time great NBA players, as well as a true pioneer.

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