This week, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was awarded the NBA's Most Valuable Player (MVP), marking the seventh consecutive year that an international player has claimed this prestigious title. The last time an American-born player earned the MVP honor was in 2018, when James Harden took home the award. Gilgeous-Alexander, hailing from Canada, exemplifies the growing global reach of the NBA and the influx of talent beyond the United States. This trend not only serves as a built-in marketing tool for the league but also raises a compelling question: When will an American-born player break this streak and reclaim the MVP title?
While predicting when an American-born player will win the MVP award again is challenging, it is easier to identify potential candidates for the honor in the coming years. Below, we rank five American-born players who could realistically contend for MVP in the near future.
At just 23 years old, Anthony Edwards has already been dubbed the potential face of the NBA, especially as the league prepares for life after LeBron James. Edwards is generating significant buzz, and if he leads the Timberwolves to their first NBA Finals appearance, he could emerge as a top MVP candidate next season. Despite finishing seventh in MVP voting in the past, this statistic largely reflects the competitive landscape rather than Edwards' individual performance.
This season, Edwards achieved a career-high average of 27.6 points per game and shot nearly 40% from beyond the arc, thanks to the absence of Karl-Anthony Towns. His ability to elevate his game year after year, alongside a Timberwolves roster designed to maximize his offensive talents, makes his MVP candidacy increasingly plausible. With a fifth-place finish in the scoring race, only behind this year's MVP finalists and Luka Dončić, Edwards may soon find himself at the forefront of MVP discussions.
Cooper Flagg is set to be the consensus No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, projected as a generational talent. If the Dallas Mavericks secure him as expected, he will step into a unique situation unlike most rookie players. Instead of being the main focus on a rebuilding team, Flagg will join a squad boasting three future Hall of Famers. This could accelerate his development and potential MVP candidacy.
Flagg's impressive defensive skills allow him to guard multiple positions, and he has the athleticism to make significant plays on both ends of the court. If his offensive game flourishes as anticipated, making him a versatile three-level scorer and playmaker, Flagg could emerge as a frontrunner for MVP honors in the years to come.
Cade Cunningham is coming off a season where he averaged career highs, made his first All-Star appearance, and guided the Pistons to the playoffs for the first time in six years. At just 23, Cunningham's potential is immense. If he continues on his upward trajectory and the Pistons enhance their roster, he could easily become a serious contender for the MVP award.
For Cunningham to achieve this, the Pistons must improve their standings, ideally finishing higher than sixth in the Eastern Conference. With returning talent like Jaden Ivey potentially stepping up as a second star, Detroit could rise in the rankings, positioning Cunningham as a viable MVP candidate in the near future.
Prior to suffering an Achilles injury, Jayson Tatum was viewed as a leading candidate for MVP. He finished in the top five of MVP voting in two of the last three seasons, playing for a Celtics team consistently among the top in the Eastern Conference. However, his injury raises questions about his ability to return to form, particularly with Boston likely undergoing significant roster changes this summer.
If Tatum can regain his pre-injury performance and the Celtics restructure around him, he would become a strong contender for MVP. His narrative of overcoming adversity to lead his team could resonate well with voters, especially if he can elevate Boston back to a top seed in the East.
Jalen Brunson recently won the Clutch Player of the Year award and played a pivotal role in leading the New York Knicks to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years. Despite finishing fifth in MVP voting last season, he has not received the recognition he deserves as a potential American-born MVP candidate.
This season, Brunson's performance was consistent with his previous year, yet the Knicks' struggles against top teams in the league often overshadowed his contributions. Nevertheless, Brunson's leadership and consistent scoring make him a name to watch in future MVP discussions, especially as the Knicks continue to build around him.
As the NBA embraces its global reach, the emergence of international players as MVP winners prompts a closer examination of American-born talent. The future looks promising for these contenders, each with the potential to reclaim the MVP title for the United States in the seasons ahead.
