Only once in NBA history has a losing team's player been named Finals MVP. Jerry West during the 1968-69 season. In 2009, former NBA commissioner David Stern renamed the Finals MVP trophy after Bill Russell. No other player has ever been selected Finals MVP in a losing effort. The 1969 Los Angeles Lakers were the only team to have a losing record during the 1968-69 season. They went 40-4 over their last 44 games played that year. The last game they lost was to the Boston Celtics on June 8, 1969. For that game, Los Angeles sent center Bill Walton instead of playing him since he had already been eliminated from playoff contention. He didn't want to let his teammates down by leaving them for any reason before the end of the season. Bill Walton ended up winning the award that season despite the fact that the Lakers lost in six games to Boston in the Finals. Since then, no player who came off the bench and helped his team win the title has been awarded the honor. In addition, no player has ever received the award while still with a team that failed to go all the way. However, if a player reports to another team without permission from the original team, then it would be considered tampering with the roster. If this happens and the player ends up on a different team than the one he intended to join, then he would not be allowed to receive the award.