'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The NBA Most Valuable Player Award is an annual award given to the best player in every regular season.
In the history of the NBA, the award has been given 68 times to 37 recipients, with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar winning it the most times (six). Bill Russell (five), Michael Jordan (five), Wilt Chamberlain (four), LeBron James (four), Moses Malone (3), Larry Bird (3), Magic Johnson (3) have won the award at least thrice.
Meanwhile, Bob Petit (2), Karl Malone (2), Tim Duncan (2), Steve Nash (2), Steph Curry (2) Giannis Antetokounmpo (2) have won the coveted award twice.
A few of the previous recipients of the NBA MVP awards are non-Americans. That included Nikola Jokic (Serbia), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece), Dirk Nowitzki (Germany), Tim Duncan (US Virgin Islands) and Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigeria).
On that note, here's a look at the five non-Americans who could clinch the NBA MVP award in the next five years.
#1 Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic was drafted to the NBA in 2018 as the no. 3 overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks. He was later traded to the Dallas Mavericks. In 2019, he was named the NBA Rookie of the Year, and was selected to the All-Rookie First Team.
The Slovenian shooting guard made it to his first All-Star Game and the All-NBA First Team in his second season in the league. He averaged 28.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game.
He has been consistent since his debut season, finishing fourth in the MVP voting in 2020 behind James Harden, LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo. While he was the fans' favorite to clinch the MVP award in 2021, he wasn't a finalist, though.
In the next few years, Doncic has a huge chance of winning the NBA MVP award.
#2 Joel Embiid
Philadelphia 76ers selected Joel Embiid as the no. 3 overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft. But he didn't feature for two seasons due to injuries. He made his debut in the 2016-17 season, averaging 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game in 31 appearances with a field goal ratio of 46.6%.
The next season, the seven-foot Cameroonian center made his first All-Star appearance. He has since then been an All-Star player, averaging 24.8 points, 11.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 260 games. He recorded a career-high 28.5 points per game in the 2020-21 NBA season.
#3 Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons was selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Sixers in the 2016 NBA Draft. But he didn't feature due to a right foot injury.
He got his start in the 2017-18 season, leading the team in assists, and was second behind Joel Embiid in points and rebounds. That helped him in getting named the 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year.
Simmons, who is an Australian, is well on his way to becoming an MVP in the next few years. The 76ers' point guard is a three-time NBA All-Star player. He has been selected twice to the All-Defensive First Team.
#4 Domantas Sabonis
Domantas Sabonis, who plays for the Indiana Pacers, debuted in the NBA in 2016, when he was drafted as the No. 11 overall pick by the Orlando Magic. He was later traded on draft night to the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he spent his rookie season before being traded to the Pacers.
The 25-year-old power forward is a two-time NBA All-Star, who could be named the NBA MVP in the near future. He led his team in rebounds and assists in the 2020-21 season, tallying 12 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game.
#5 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made his way into the NBA as the 11th overall pick in the 2018 draft by the Charlotte Hornets. He was traded to the LA Clippers on draft night in an exchange with Miles Bridge. He stayed with the Clippers only for his rookie season, which saw him selected into the 2018-19 All-Rookie Second Team.
He was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder on July 10, 2019, in exchange for Paul George. On his debut in the Thunder shirt, Gilgeous- Alexander registered 24 points, four rebounds and one assist to help the team secure a win over the Mavericks.
He became the second-youngest player to record a triple-double stat line of 20 points, 20 rebounds and ten assists in a single game since 1991 (also Russell Westbrook).
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 23.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game with a field goal of 50.8% in the NBA last season, leading the team in points and assists. The OKC shooting guard is another future MVP candidate.
