NBA Unveils New Conference Finals MVP Awards Named For Magic Johnson & Larry Bird

We have the Larry O'Brien Trophy for season MVP, and the Bill Russell NBA Finals trophy, now the NBA has created new trophies for the Conference Final MVPs in order to honor two of the game's All-Time legends. 

Enter the Magic Johnson and Larry Bird trophies.

Larry Bird and Earvin “Magic” Johnson helped define the modern NBA with their individual brilliance and team success in the 1980s. The two NBA legends are honored as the namesakes for the trophies that will now be awarded each year to the Eastern & Western Conference Finals MVPs. pic.twitter.com/9G5oiCvEfV

— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2022

Knowing how these two loved to good-naturedly trash talk each other over the years, Larry Bird had a funny response when he heard the news: 

Larry Bird learns about the new Larry Bird Trophy, awarded to the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, from NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer, Mark Tatum. pic.twitter.com/CTdvhPI20y

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) May 12, 2022

"I just wish I could win one of them Magic Johnson Trophies, that would be the highlight of my career! Ha ha", laughed Bird. 

Magic and Bird together won 8 NBA Championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, respectively, as well as a total of 5 Finals MVPs between them. 

The legendary Hall of Famers are two of the greatest players to ever play the game.