There is officially a new MVP. ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported on Wednesday afternoon that former Los Angeles Clippers guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the 2024-25 NBA MVP. SGA, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo were the three finalists for the award, continuing a streak that has lasted for seven years and counting.
James Harden won MVP in 2017-18, marking the last time an American-born player took home the trophy. Since then, Antetokounmpo won the award in back-to-back seasons, Jokic did the same in 2021 and 22, Joel Embiid won in 2023, and Jokic won it again in 2024.
Before Giannis won MVP in 2018-19, Dirk Nowitzki was the last international player to win the award in 2007. There's been a shift in NBA royalty, with top talent coming from players who weren't born in the USA.
Gilgeous-Alexander was born in Toronto and grew up in Hamilton, Ontario. He's the first Canadian to win MVP since Steve Nash in 2006 (he also won it in 2005).
Harden may continue to hold onto the title beyond 2025, as SGA, Jokic, and Giannis could be finalists again next season. Luka Doncic could be in the conversation again, too. Victor Wembanyama might not be a finalist as soon as next year, but he'll undoubtedly win at least a couple of MVPs.
James Harden last NBA American-born player to win NBA MVP
Harden received 86 of 101 votes to win MVP in 2018 after finishing as the runner-up in two of the previous three years, beating finalists LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He led the league in scoring with 30.4 points per game, shooting 44.9% from the field and 36.7% from three in 72 games.
The Rockets finished with a league-best 65-17 record that season, seven games ahead of the 58-24 Warriors. Houston wasn't the better team in the playoffs, though, as the Warriors beat the Rockets in the Western Conference Finals, 4-3. Golden State went on to win the 2018 title.
Since 2018, Harden hasn't reached the conference finals with the teams he's played for. The closest he came was in 2021 when the Nets fell to the Bucks in seven games in the second round. The Clippers had a chance to beat the Nuggets a few weeks ago to advance to the second round, but were routed, 120-101. Harden finished with seven points, five rebounds, and 13 assists in 35 minutes on 2-of-8 shooting from the field in the Game 7 loss.
LA fans don't care much about individual accolades but want to see the team win its first championship. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like that'll happen anytime soon with Harden and Kawhi Leonard on the backside of their respective NBA careers.