MVP: Curry, Davis and Tatum, candidates to break foreign dominance
In the last six years, the NBA’s Most Valuable Player has been a foreigner, but this year there are American contenders such as Anthony Davis, Stephen Curry and Jayson Tatum.
the season 2024-25 NBA had on opening night 125 foreign playersborn in 43 different countries around the world to confirm their internationalization, one that has caused, in the last six years, the winners of the Most Valuable Award They were not Americans.
The main references in the Association have different origins, beyond LeBron Jameswho does not get the MVP since 2013, although at least at this start of the campaign there are other venues willing to recover it, but they will have to maintain the pace until April.
The recognition of the most outstanding basketball player in the League was instituted in 1955 and in the first 38 editions it went to the home team, until in 1993-94 the Nigerian Hakeem Olajuwon He broke the statistic, although the next 10 again fell into the hands of the Stars and Stripes.
However, the Canadian Steve Nash (twice) and German Dirk Nowitzki They managed to ensure that from 2005 to 2007 the trophy had a different passport, although it returned to the Americans for more than a decade.
Until everything changed, the NBA took a turn to attract universal talent and it was clear with the Greek’s two wins in a row. Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2019 and 2020, from Serbian Nikola Jokic in 2021 and 2022, from the Cameroonian Joel Embiid in 2023 (although he competed with the USA in the Olympics) and the Joker again, a few months ago.
These are six consecutive editions in which the award now called Michael Jordan It has gone to foreign figures and even in the three most recent, the finalists were from other latitudes: in 2021-22 and 2022-23 it was Jokic, Embiid and Giannis and in 2023-24 Nikola was accompanied by the Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Slovenian Luka Doncic.
Therefore, it was no surprise that the five favorites to win the prize in the betting at this start of the campaign were foreigners: Doncic, Jokic, SGA, Embiid and Antetokounmpo, the first local on the list was Jalen Brunsonof the Knicks, was followed by his compatriot Anthony Edwardsbut the eighth was the French sensation Victor Wembanyama.
Those who cause people to fill the Arenas, turn on the television or consume products were born far from where they currently play and that has displaced the hosts, who see the possibility of recovering the recognition they gained James Harden in 2017-18 they seem distant.
However, at this start of the season there are players who deserve to finally return home the award. These are the main candidates according to their performance so far:
After doubts about whether he was still the ideal partner for LeBron in Los Angeles LakersAnthony Davis has responded in a big way and is positioned as the offensive reference for Los Angeles, despite the presence of the King, with his work in the paint and, above all, staying away from injuries.
AD averages 30.1 points per game, the fourth highest number in the entire League and close to six more than he registered in the previous season, in addition to having 11.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in the 35 minutes he spends on the floor, with almost 20 field attempts every night.
His contribution has been key for the Lakers to have the fourth best record in the Western Conference, a factor to take into account for the MVP, because the star of the team who has an outstanding record is usually awarded.
In terms of performances to boast about, he has the 40 points he scored in the victory against the San Antonio Spurs on November 15, in addition to 12 boards, although less than a week later he had 39 against the Orlando Magic and began that month with 38 against Toronto Raptors and 37 against the Detroit Pistons, to show that he is willing to take a step forward.
Despite his value within the League, the last time Davis had a vote in this category was in 2019-20, in his debut with the Lakers, when he finished sixth, behind the winner Giannis and his teammate LeBron, who was Second, that year he recorded 26.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.
At 36, the chef is cooking an unexpected dish for everyone because with a fifth of the season contested, the Golden State Warriors They have the second most wins in the West, just when a collapse was expected due to the departure of Klay Thompson already a roster that is not as talented as in the past.
However, in addition to the miracles that Steph usually works to win games, he has now stood out for his leadership, as the mentor of a young squad, which shares the ball more (he averages almost one and a half more assists than in 2023-24), although he scores less (from 26.4 to 22), without losing effectiveness in the triple, because he converts four in each duel.
He had dazzling nights in a row with 36 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder and 37 against the Dallas Mavericks on November 10 and 12, but beyond the statistics he has excelled in carrying a franchise that is relevant again, when many considered their career ended. golden era in the face of fierce competition.
Curry was already MVP in 2014-15 and 2015-16, but last year was the first time since 2012 that he was not in consideration (not counting 2019-20 when he only played five games); However, their chances of conquest have more to do with keeping the Dubs in the top spots as the calendar progresses and impressing with last-second three-point victories.
The leader of the current NBA champions was the Most Valuable of the All-Star Game in 2023, but he has never been the MVP at the end of a season, although with his team as a candidate to repeat, he should add some votes again and if it increases individual statistics, even lifting the trophy.
Tatum is the fifth best scorer in the League so far, with 28.9 points per game, two more than the previous season, in addition to averaging one more assist and maintaining the number of draws, but the most impressive statistic is 4.1 triples converted per game, fourth in the Association, even above Curry.
The Boston Celtics They are hunting the surprising Cleveland Cavaliers, but by the end they will be in the conversation for being number one in the East and that could cause voters to look at someone who was one rebound away from having a triple-double against Brooklyn Nets on November 13, with 36 units included.
Recently, Jayson has put his name on the list, he was sixth in the voting in 2021-22, fourth in 2022-23, when he placed as the best American, and was sixth again in the previous calendar, so This is someone who consistently delivers this performance.
These three are the main candidates to end foreign dominance in the NBA’s most important individual award, but others appear like De’Aaron Fox, with a spectacular level with the Sacramento Kings, or Anthony Edwards, who has already become the benchmark in Minnesota Timberwolves.
However, protagonists like Jokic, Antetokounmpo or Doncic will not give up the distinction so soon to the American players, who will have to earn it with stellar performances both individually and collectively between now and the end of the regular campaign.
