NBA MVP Announcement
The dramatic reveal of the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the current season is set to take place this Sunday, coinciding with the lead-up to Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, where the Oklahoma City Thunder will face the San Antonio Spurs. This season’s finalists for the prestigious honor consist of last year’s MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder, Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, and Nikola Jokic from the Denver Nuggets. This event will be broadcast live as part of Amazon Prime Video’s pregame show, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET.
International MVP Trends
Should one of the finalists emerge victorious, it will mark the eighth straight year that the MVP award has gone to a player born outside of the United States, continuing a notable trend that began with Giannis Antetokounmpo from Greece claiming the trophy in both 2019 and 2020. Following him were Jokic from Serbia (2021, 2022) and Joel Embiid, whose roots in Cameroon shifted as he became a U.S. citizen (2023). Jokic regained the award in 2024, while Gilgeous-Alexander from Canada took the honors last season.
This year, if Wembanyama captures the award, he will make history as the first French player to do so. Meanwhile, Jokic aims for an impressive fourth MVP title, a feat only achieved by a select few legendary players: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (six MVPs), Michael Jordan (five), Bill Russell (five), Wilt Chamberlain (four), and LeBron James (four).
Historical Context
In total, this upcoming announcement could represent the twelfth time an international player has received the MVP accolade, joining the ranks of former winners such as Hakeem Olajuwon from Nigeria (1994), Steve Nash from Canada (2005, 2006), and Dirk Nowitzki from Germany (2007).
Timing of the Announcement
The decision to unveil the MVP on the eve of a pivotal playoff game may serve as a subtle nod to Gilgeous-Alexander, echoing last year’s MVP announcement timing. In 2025, he was recognized as the MVP on May 21, with the formal presentation occurring prior to Game 2 of the Western Conference finals on May 22 in Oklahoma City. This year’s timing offers a similar backdrop, as the MVP will be disclosed just one day before the Thunder kicks off their playoff campaign against the Spurs on Monday night.
