Can American stars reclaim the MVP title? The official website lists five major candidates, with the last winner being Harden in 2018.

On August 14, Beijing time, the NBA's official website published an article discussing whether American players can regain the regular season MVP title. The last American-born player to win the regular season MVP was James Harden, which was back in 2018. The website lamented that this "cold winter" for American MVPs feels like it has lasted for 50 years.

Jokic (Serbia), Giannis (Greece), and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada), along with a potentially slimmer Doncic (Slovenia), which American player has a chance to stand out in the competition against these international superstars?

The American player who received the most MVP votes last season was Tatum, who would normally be expected to be at or near the forefront of the competition, but he may miss most of this season due to recovery.

As for LeBron, Curry, and Durant, they still show strong performances and perhaps still possess the caliber to make the All-NBA team, but these former MVPs are no longer at their peak, and they need their teams to be championship contenders.

Even so, the NBA's official website has listed a group of five players (in no particular order) who are believed to have the best chances of winning the MVP or receiving a large number of votes in the 2025-26 season.

Brunson, New York Knicks

In the past three years, has anyone's reputation risen more significantly than Brunson's? A second-round pick in 2018 and a backup point guard for the Dallas Mavericks, Brunson is now an elite point guard, controlling the team in the largest market—New York City. He is hard to overlook.

Last season, he was just behind Cade Cunningham in the scoring list for point guards, but with higher shooting efficiency. His strongest asset is his ability to win in clutch moments; however, with the arrival of new coach Mike Brown, Brunson may be asked to share the ball more in critical situations. This could make the Knicks more dangerous and unpredictable in the closing moments of games.

This raises a question: if Brunson improves his passing and eventually ranks among the top assist leaders, it may attract the voters' attention, who might consider his growth worthy of more votes. Regardless, the Knicks are expected to win over 50 games and could potentially become one of the top three seeds in the East. If Brunson can deliver impressive stats, he would definitely be a strong contender.

Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

He is the face of the next generation of American players, finishing seventh in the MVP voting last season. Everything about Cunningham is on track. He is the core of an emerging team, his stats are on the rise, and the Pistons are a team capable of winning 50 games.

Cunningham is at a crucial stage in every MVP candidate's career, ready to elevate from good to great. He has just touched his peak and is filled with competitive fire and pride. If he and the Pistons start strong from the beginning, his MVP campaign momentum could grow. If he can become a starter in the All-Star game, he will be a truly impactful contender.

Of course, he may still need 1-2 years to enter serious MVP consideration. Cunningham could be affected by voters' "seniority" mentality. It depends on whether he responds with, "My time is now."

Davis, Dallas Mavericks

In case you forgot, Davis is arguably the best two-way player in basketball, and certainly among American players (the closest peer in this regard is Giannis). He can defend multiple positions, protect the rim, shoot from range, and impact games—few can match him.

For Davis, it all comes down to health, which is why, unless luck is on his side, his chances of winning the MVP are quite slim. Can Davis reach the minimum number of games required for MVP consideration (65 games)? He has only achieved this once since 2018.

That said, this season will be a redemption year for him, marking his first full season in Dallas. He will strive to prove he is still at his peak, capable of leading a team and maintaining strong competitiveness for the Mavericks before Irving's return, while also showing he can stay healthy. If he can accomplish all of this, MVP votes will naturally follow.

Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

He possesses the skills to be an MVP candidate, and equally important, he has the desire. Edwards craves everything, and he might just get it. Last season, he averaged 27.6 points (fourth in the league), improved his three-point shooting, and had averages of 5.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists.

His numbers could potentially improve this season. If Edwards can stay in the top five in scoring, it will draw attention; if he leads the scoring chart for most of the season, it could bolster his candidacy significantly.

However, ultimately, the Timberwolves must become a 60-win team—which is not easy in the West—and challenge the Oklahoma City Thunder for the top seed. These team goals will be the biggest obstacles Edwards faces.

Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers

Mitchell's individual stats, ability to take over games (especially in the final moments), and the potential for his team to achieve great success all work in his favor. Last season, among American players, only Tatum received more MVP votes than him.

The Cavaliers won 64 games last season, securing the top seed in the East. They have a strong chance of repeating such a win total and seed ranking, especially since the Celtics (who won 61 games last season) may be weakened by Tatum's delayed return and key offseason losses (like Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis). The best player on a top seed team often becomes a frontrunner for the MVP.

In this scenario, Mitchell needs to put up impressive numbers to solidify his candidacy. Any player ranked high in MVP voting must have a statistical edge in some aspect. He will likely need to rank in the top five in scoring and also be among the leaders in guard rebounds.