Inspiring tales of success abound in the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-top-3-best-game-winning-buzzer-beaters-in-history-20230727-SPD-3842.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a>, but the most fascinating ones occur when the unlikeliest of heroes do extraordinary feats. The title of <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-all-time-top-4-sixth-man-in-history-20230720-SPD-3817.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Most Valuable Player (MVP)</a> in basketball is usually reserved for the sport’s greatest players, those who constantly raise the bar for their team’s play.



However, every once in a while, an underdog comes out of nowhere and surprises everyone by performing at a spectacular level. The underdog mentality is strong in the NBA, as seen by these players, all of whom have inspiring backstories.



Their unexpected MVP awards show the world how unpredictable sports can be and how much potential every player has. In this piece, we honor the three most surprising MVPs in NBA history.



<h2>3. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 2019 and 2020, Milwaukee Bucks</h2>



Giannis Antetokounmpo, originally from Athens, Greece, was picked by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2013 with the 15th overall pick. Giannis, who had a tough upbringing in a poor neighborhood of Athens and began his basketball career by peddling timepieces, didn’t seem like he was destined for the NBA.



His stature, speed, and talent, together with his dogged work ethic, allowed him to develop into a star player in the league. He earned the MVP title for the first time in 2019, and his dominant play surprised both fans and observers. He won the award for the second year in a row, in 2020.



The rise of Giannis to NBA superstardom from modest origins is nothing short of remarkable. His hard work, persistence, and enormous skill led to an unexpected ascension to NBA MVP status.



<h2>2. Allen Iverson – 2001, Philadelphia 76ers</h2>



In a league where most players are over 6 feet tall, Allen Iverson never let his height limit his effect on the court. Iverson was a player who consistently confounded expectations with his speed, quickness, and ability to put points on the board.



Iverson led the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA Finals in 2000–01 while averaging 31.1 points per game. Iverson’s exceptional play that year led to his being named the league’s most valuable player despite the fact that his team was not favored to win the championship. His ability to boost his team’s performance despite being one of the league’s tiniest players led to him being named MVP.



<h2>1. Steve Nash – 2005 and 2006, Phoenix Suns</h2>



Even though he was a talented point guard, few people expected him to achieve the heights he did while playing for the Phoenix Suns. Canadian-born South African Steve Nash was a competent player for the Dallas Mavericks, but he became a superstar after moving to the Phoenix Suns.



In 2005, Nash guided the Suns to 62 victories—the most in the NBA—after finishing with only 29 the year before. He was a game-changer thanks to his lethal shooting, precision passing, and basketball savvy.



In recognition of his exceptional talent and leadership on the court, he was named MVP, a feat he repeated the following year. His two consecutive MVP awards further cemented Nash’s position as one of the game’s all-time best point guards.

NBA: Top 3 most unexpected MVPs of all time

NBA: Top 3 most unexpected MVPs of all time - thesportsdrops NEWS

miniaturas

The <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/turmoil-surrounding-kevin-durants-trade-request-to-nets-played-down-by-steve-nash-20220929-SPD-2865.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brooklyn Nets</a> have sacked head coach <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-steve-nash-reacts-to-being-fired-by-the-brooklyn-nets-20221101-SPD-3073.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Steve Nash</a> after a disappointing 2-5 start to the season. This comes after some of the team’s best players called for his dismissal throughout the summer.



The game against the Bulls on Tuesday was coached by assistant coach Jacque Vaughn. Nash finished with a 94-67 record in his first season as a head coach, but he is more known for the many scandals surrounding his team’s players that he was unable to prevent.



As Kevin Durant demanded his dismissal and Kyrie Irving refused to be vaccinated and, most recently, as Irving retweeted an anti-semitic video and was not disciplined for it, the 48-year-old seemed to be at a loss and unable to manage his top players. Even this summer, Durant asked the club to fire Nash, who had been their coach since 2020. 



The superstar has also asked that general manager Sean Marks be fired. It was reported, however, that things were patched up when Durant rescinded his trade request after it became evident that no other club would be willing to meet the Nets’ asking price. The Nets are now looking for a new head coach, so let’s examine four possible options.



<h2>Ime Udoka</h2>



According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Ime Udoka has emerged as a frontrunner for the Nets’ job. After being punished for violating the team’s workplace policy, Udoka will not lead for the Celtics again until the end of the 2022-23 season. Most crucially for the Nets, their 45-year-old coach has not been banned by the NBA. 



<h2>Charles Lee</h2>



Lee’s been one of the most sought-after candidates for a number of open positions in recent recruiting rounds. As of this season, Lee is listed as the Bucks’ assistant head coach. Sooner or later, he will be given the opportunity to lead a team as its coach.



<h2>Quin Snyder</h2>



Wojnarowski suggests that even Snyder will reportedly be considered for the vacant coaching position in Brooklyn. The 56-year-old and the Utah Jazz mutually chose to end their eight-year working relationship earlier this year. He would be an ideal choice to manage a club with championship hopes since he guided Utah to six postseason berths in eight seasons as head coach.



<h2>Frank Vogel</h2>



Just two years after Vogel led the Lakers to their 18th NBA championship, the team decided to part ways with him as head coach. If Vogel can thrive while under the intense scrutiny that comes with coaching LeBron James and the Lakers, then any future demands he faces will seem like a breeze in comparison.

4 potentital coaching candidates to replace Steve Nash at Brooklyn Nets

4 potentital coaching candidates to replace Steve Nash at Brooklyn Nets - thesportsdrops NEWS

It didn’t take long to see the first head coach of the 2022-23 NBA season be fired. Only two weeks after Opening Night, the Nets decided to relieve <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/turmoil-surrounding-kevin-durants-trade-request-to-nets-played-down-by-steve-nash-20220929-SPD-2865.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Steve Nash</a> from the head coaching duties.



Brooklyn started the season on the wrong foot, sitting at 2-5 to be 12th in the Eastern Conference. Nash was only in his third season at the helm of the Nets, but the front office felt it saw enough.



Nash’s future was put into question since the team was swept in the first round of last season’s playoffs by the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/we-have-been-overrated-celtics-owner-wyc-grousbeck-2788-20220919-SPD-2788.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Celtics</a>, with Kevin Durant and <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-kyrie-irving-opens-up-on-nets-brutal-loss-to-celtics-last-season-2794-20220920-SPD-2794.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kyrie Irving</a>’s future also up in the air. In the end, Nash had to leave his post but showed no hard feelings.



<h2>Steve Nash releases statement after Nets firing</h2>



“Thank you Brooklyn. A very heartfelt thanks to Jose and Clara Tsai along with Sean Marks for giving me the opportunity to coach the Brooklyn Nets. It was an amazing experience with many challenged that I’m incredibly grateful for,” Nash said in a statement released on social media.



“It was a pleasure to work with the players, performance team and front office every day. I’m especially grateful for my coaching staff and video room who are a talented group with so much character and professionalism.



“Lastly, thanks to Brooklyn and the passionate fans who support this team. Family first and my family has found a home here and LOVES being a part of this beautiful community. I wish the Nets all the success in the world and the Nash’s will be rooting for our team as they turn this season around.”



Things didn’t work out, but Nash left without complaining. Now, Jacque Vaughn will serve as interim coach while the Nets search for a permanent head coach, which could be Ime Udoka.

NBA News: Steve Nash reacts to being fired by the Brooklyn Nets

NBA News: Steve Nash reacts to being fired by the Brooklyn Nets - thesportsdrops NEWS

The summer for the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-lakers-committed-to-helping-lebron-james-but-theres-a-catch-20220927-SPD-2849.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brooklyn Nets</a> was nothing short of a roller coaster ride, but head coach <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/joe-mazzulla-promoted-as-temporary-celtics-head-coach-after-ime-udokas-suspension-20220924-SPD-2830.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Steve Nash</a> feels that things have returned to normal in the borough, particularly with regard to his relationship with superstar player <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/cavaliers-and-dean-wade-agree-new-three-year-contract-extension-20220926-SPD-2836.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kevin Durant</a>.



A year after extending his contract with Brooklyn by four years and submitting a request for trade on June 30, Durant informed the team of his desire to be sent somewhere. After speaking with Nash, Joe Tsai, Clara Wu Tsai, and Rich Kleiman in Los Angeles, the two-time NBA champion ultimately chose to withdraw his request and continue with the process. 



This took place during the end of the previous month. Following that conversation, Nash is now in a position where he considers the squad to be in “fine” shape going into the upcoming season.



<h2>Steve Nash addresses relationship with Kevin Durant</h2>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“We’re good. It’s been like nothing’s changed. I have a long history with Kevin [Durant]. I love the guy. Families have issues. We had a moment and it’s behind us. That’s what happens. It’s a common situation in the league. Knowing Kevin as long as I have, it didn’t really bother me the way maybe everyone would think. “That’s a part of being competitors. I wasn’t overly surprised and I wasn’t even overly concerned. It was something that I thought we would address in time, and we did. And here we are and we’re looking forward. It’s something else that we can grow from as well. I never thought that was 100 percent. It’s not black and white like that. There’s a lot of factors, a lot of things behind the scenes.”<cite>Steve Nash told ESPN</cite></blockquote>

Steve Nash

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