Today we continue in part 7 of a 10-part series at Once Upon a Dribble!

During the 2022 playoffs the NBA began awarding MVP awards to the best performing player of each conference finals: the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award and the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award, named for the two players credited for building the league up to greater popularity in the 1980s.

This begs the question, with the award just being handed out for the first time last season, who are the deserving winners from the previous 50+ years of NBA history?

Find out today as Josh tackles the Eastern Conference in the 2000s!

2000: Indiana Pacers vs New York Knicks - Reggie Miller (01:41)

2001: Milwaukee Bucks vs Philadelphia 76ers - Dikembe Mutombo (06:10)

2002: Boston Celtics vs New Jersey Nets - Jason Kidd (13:31)

2003: Detroit Pistons vs New Jersey Nets - Jason Kidd (20:00)

2004: Detroit Pistons vs Indiana Pacers - Ben Wallace (24:08) 2005: Detroit Pistons vs Miami Heat - Richard Hamilton (26:16)

2006: Detroit Pistons vs Miami Heat - Dwyane Wade (32:24)

2007: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Detroit Pistons - LeBron James (37:26)

2008: Boston Celtics vs Detroit Pistons - Kevin Garnett (44:18)

2009: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Orlando Magic - Dwight Howard (49:41)