Post by eric on Apr 22, 2019 17:52:02 GMT
Since 1984, there have been eighteen American players who won the regular season MVP in the NBA. Of these, only two did not win at least one gold medal for Team USA in either the Olympics or World Championships, and they happened back to back: Allen Iverson (2001 MVP) and Tim Duncan (2002 and 2003 MVPs), both of whom won a bronze medal in 2004 and called it quits on their national team careers.
This counts Hakeem Olajuwon and Tim Duncan as "American" since they both competed for Team USA, although they could have competed for Team Nigeria or Team Virgin Islands respectively; indeed, Team Nigeria defeated Argentina for the 1996 gold medal in soccer (nice work Messi) and Team Virgin Islands sent six representatives to the 2004 Olympics but did not medal.
Before 1984, there were thirteen American players who won the MVP, and of those only two DID win a gold medal, and they too happened back to back: Bill Russell (1958, 1961-63, 1965 MVPs) won a gold medal in 1956, delaying participation in his rookie season and resulting in Rookie of the Year going to Tommy Heinsohn, it definitely wasn't racism, and Oscar Robertson (1964 MVP, not his triple double year) won a gold medal in 1960.
Of the current MVP favorites per b-r...
-Giannis plays for Team Greece
-Harden has two golds
-Jokic plays for Team Serbia (and has a silver)
-Kawhi has never played a game for Team USA
-Durant has three golds
...and given the MVP is almost certain to be one of the top two, the trend seems sure to continue.
.
I also learned that Willis Reed's page credited him with a silver medal in 1963, except the US finished fourth in the World Championship that year, so I deleted it. Nice try, user igordebraga!
And I finally learned that Bob McAdoo (1975 MVP) played seven years in Italy after his NBA career ended, and he retired from the NBA at age 34!
This counts Hakeem Olajuwon and Tim Duncan as "American" since they both competed for Team USA, although they could have competed for Team Nigeria or Team Virgin Islands respectively; indeed, Team Nigeria defeated Argentina for the 1996 gold medal in soccer (nice work Messi) and Team Virgin Islands sent six representatives to the 2004 Olympics but did not medal.
Before 1984, there were thirteen American players who won the MVP, and of those only two DID win a gold medal, and they too happened back to back: Bill Russell (1958, 1961-63, 1965 MVPs) won a gold medal in 1956, delaying participation in his rookie season and resulting in Rookie of the Year going to Tommy Heinsohn, it definitely wasn't racism, and Oscar Robertson (1964 MVP, not his triple double year) won a gold medal in 1960.
Of the current MVP favorites per b-r...
-Giannis plays for Team Greece
-Harden has two golds
-Jokic plays for Team Serbia (and has a silver)
-Kawhi has never played a game for Team USA
-Durant has three golds
...and given the MVP is almost certain to be one of the top two, the trend seems sure to continue.
.
I also learned that Willis Reed's page credited him with a silver medal in 1963, except the US finished fourth in the World Championship that year, so I deleted it. Nice try, user igordebraga!
And I finally learned that Bob McAdoo (1975 MVP) played seven years in Italy after his NBA career ended, and he retired from the NBA at age 34!
