Nikola Jokić on Top: A Look at the international players who have won the NBA MVP award

The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced in the early hours of Thursday, May 22 (Philippine Standard Time), that Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named the NBA’s 2024–25 KIA Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Gilgeous-Alexander beat out competition from Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokić and Milwaukee Bucks icon Giannis Antetokounmpo to win the prestigious honor. This is the first time the 26-year-old has received the MVP award, and he becomes only the second player from Canada to earn the distinction, following two-time winner Steve Nash.

Additionally, Gilgeous-Alexander becomes the seventh consecutive international player to win the MVP award, joining Nikola Jokić (2024, 2022, 2021), Joel Embiid (2023), and Giannis Antetokounmpo (2020, 2019).

WOW: for 7-straight seasons, the NBA MVP has been won by an international player 🔥

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 2025

Nikola Jokic – 2021, 2022, 2024

Joel Embiid – 2023

Giannis Antetokounmpo – 2019, 2020 pic.twitter.com/D4brCcVwV2

— CourtSideHeat (@CourtSideHeat) May 21, 2025

Here, we take a look at the international players who have won the MVP award:

• Hakeem Olajuwon (1993–94) – Nigeria, Houston Rockets 

   

• Tim Duncan (2001–02, 2002–03) – U.S. Virgin Islands, San Antonio Spurs 

   

• Steve Nash (2004–05, 2005–06) – Canada, Phoenix Suns 

   

• Dirk Nowitzki (2006–07) – Germany, Dallas Mavericks 

   

• Giannis Antetokounmpo (2018–19, 2019–20) – Greece, Milwaukee Bucks 

   

• Nikola Jokić (2020–21, 2021–22, 2023–24) – Serbia, Denver Nuggets 

   

• Joel Embiid (2022–23) – Cameroon, Philadelphia 76ers 

   

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2024–25) – Canada, Oklahoma City Thunder 

   

As it stands, Nikola Jokić leads all international players in MVP awards with three, while Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, and Giannis Antetokounmpo have each won the award twice.

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