Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recently won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award, marking the seventh year of consecutive international winners. The last American recipient was James Harden in 2018. This highlights the global talent in the NBA and raises questions about when an American player will reclaim the title.

Here are five American stars with a solid chance of capturing the MVP award in the near future:

1. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

Edwards is frequently mentioned as a future “face of the league”. If he can lead his team to the NBA Finals, he might become a top MVP contender.

2. Cooper Flagg, TBD officially (Mavericks unofficially)

Flagg is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. His talent may fast track him as a future MVP, depending on his team’s structure.

3. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

After a stellar season, Cunningham has emerged as a player to watch if the Pistons surround him with the right talent.

4. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

If Tatum recovers well from his injury and the Celtics adjust their strategy, he could return to MVP discussions.

5. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

Despite being overshadowed recently, Brunson’s leadership could place him in high contention for MVP honors.