Who was the last American to win NBA MVP? Streak of international winners continues in 2025

The 2020s are becoming the new golden era for international basketball players.

While there were certainly foreign-born stars in the NBA in previous decades, international players — especially big men — have reigned supreme over the league in recent years. In fact, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 2025 MVP award, there is now an extended streak of international MVPs.

From Gilgeous-Alexander to Nikola Jokic's three MVP awards, the league's top stars in the 2020s have often been born outside the United States.

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Here's what to know about the last American player to win MVP and the list of international MVPs.

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Who was the last American to win NBA MVP?

There has not been an American-born player to win the NBA's MVP award since 2017-18 when James Harden averaged 30.4 points, 8.8 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game for the Rockets to win the award. Houston won 65 games in the regular season, and Harden beat out LeBron James and Anthony Davis to win his lone Michael Jordan Trophy.

Following Harden's win, there has been a streak of seven seasons where an international player won MVP, but among just four players. Prior to then, there had been a streak of 11 consecutive seasons where an international player did not win MVP, with the last one being Dirk Nowitzki in 2007.

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The active streak of international stars winning MVP began in 2018-19 when Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists for a 60-win Bucks squad, barely beating out Harden for the individual honor. Antetokounmpo then claimed the MVP again in 2019-20, going back-to-back.

Another back-to-back international winner came along in 2020-21 with the Nuggets' Nikola Jokic, who won three MVPs in four years (2021, 2022, 2024) with his astounding all-around impact and massive numbers. In 2024, the Serbia native became the first player to win a third MVP since LeBron James in 2012.

Sandwiched in between Jokic's MVPs was one for the 76ers' Joel Embiid, who averaged 33.1 points in 2022-23 to win the award. And now Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a Canadian native, has continued the streak.

Here's a look at the seven seasons since an American-born player, Harden, won the NBA MVP:

International NBA MVPs

Prior to Antetokounmpo's first MVP in 2019, there had been just four players born outside the United States to win an NBA MVP award.

Here's the full list of international NBA MVP winners, with Gilgeous-Alexander now joining the list: