Are American MVP Days In The NBA Over?

The NBA announced the winner for this season’s Most Valuable Player over the weekend, creating a chorus of cheers from Canada. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder was crowned the league’s top player for the second year in a row, raising questions about the chances of an American MVP in the near future.

There was a time when America held a lock on MVP, generating one after another for decades. Times have changed, though, and it’s been nearly a decade since a player from the United States claimed the prize. The next few years could turn things around, but any American candidate will have tough competition from the usual suspects.

Who Has The Best Shot Of Being An American MVP?

James Harden’s 2017-18 season was a sight to behold. Most notably, it’s the last time that an American player took home the MVP trophy. In the years since, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Gilgeous-Alexander have claimed the honors. They have all fought hard for that grand prize and will be in contention for the foreseeable future. Americans are starting to believe again, however.

An American didn’t even land in the top four this year. Gilgeous-Alexander was number one, followed by Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, and Luka Doncic. Cade Cunningham came in fifth place with 117 votes, right ahead of Jaylen Brown, Kawhi Leonard, and Donovan Mitchell.

In the years ahead, Cunningham, Brown, and Mitchell all have a good shot at MVP. It’s not as clear if Leonard will stay in contention due to his age and history of injuries. Many NBA fans are putting most of their hope in Cunningham and Brown. They were both generating a lot of noise earlier in the season but couldn’t break into top-four contention. If they can keep up their output and Brown doesn’t create too many waves with his public comments, they’ll both be back.

NBA, MVP, American MVP, Cooper Flagg, Kon Kneuppel

Other Americans may be added to the mix, too. If Cooper Flagg’s ascension is anything like Wembanyama’s, it’s easy to envision him perhaps adding an MVP trophy next to his Rookie of the Year. Flagg’s college teammate and friend Kon Knueppel shouldn’t be ignored either, especially if he keeps lighting it up from beyond the three-point line. Chet Holmgren might also make a splash in MVP voting, but he could be overshadowed by his running buddy, SGA.

Both Jayson Tatum and Anthony Edwards have been talked about as candidates for the big prize, but some might wonder if their windows have closed. Both players faced injury issues this year, which means they didn’t meet the 65-game threshold. A full season of good health and strong numbers could once again thrust them into MVP contention.

It’s always vital to remember that Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic, Wembanyama, and Doncic aren’t going to disappear. Wembanyama will especially remain a threat in this race for years to come. He has already been named Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. He could be just weeks away from heading to the NBA Finals for the first time. If he can overtake the Thunder and create a storybook end to this stellar season, there is little doubt that he will enter 2026-27 as the frontrunner for MVP. Like Jokic, Antetokounmpo, and Gilgeous-Alexander, Wembanyama looks like the sort of player who could win multiple awards.

This year’s MVP results prove that the NBA has become an international association filled with talent from all over the globe. That is a great thing and promising for the future of basketball. American fans may feel a bittersweet sting as players from the U.S. keep missing their chances to become the Most Valuable Player, but there is no doubt foreign stars are creating some of the best basketball the league has ever seen.