The question of when an American-born player will next win the NBA’s MVP award remains open, with the last winner being James Harden in 2018. As international stars like Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continue to dominate the race, attention turns to the few Americans with a realistic shot this season.
NBA.com senior writer Shaun Powell recently highlighted five American players with the strongest MVP outlooks for 2025-26 — a group that includes Dallas Mavericks star Anthony Davis.
“In case you forgot, Davis is arguably the best two-way player in basketball, and definitely among American players (his closest peer in that regard is Antetokounmpo),” Powell wrote. “His ability to guard multiple positions, protect the rim, shoot with range, and impact games is matched only by a select few.”
Anthony Davis Enters First Full Season With Dallas Mavericks
Davis split last season between the Los Angeles Lakers and Mavericks, averaging 24.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 51 games overall. In his nine appearances with Dallas following the trade, he posted 20.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. His performance earned him a selection to his tenth NBA All-Star Game, underscoring his continued status among the league’s elite.
Davis enters his first full season in Dallas looking to reestablish himself as one of the league’s elite two-way players. His combination of rim protection, defensive versatility, and offensive range keeps him in rare company, with only a handful of players capable of impacting a game on both ends at his level.
Key Factors for NBA MVP Outlook
The challenge for Davis remains the same as in past seasons: durability. Since 2018, he has played the 65-game minimum for award eligibility just once, making health a critical factor in his MVP candidacy.
If Davis can stay on the floor, the opportunity for a breakthrough campaign is clear. He’ll be tasked with keeping the Mavericks in contention until Kyrie Irving returns from injury, while also proving he can still anchor a playoff-caliber team deep into his 30s. A healthy, dominant season would make him difficult to ignore for voters, especially if Dallas secures a top spot in the Western Conference standings.
The 2025-26 race may be crowded, but Davis’ ability to influence the game on both ends — and the narrative of a resurgence in Dallas — gives him a legitimate path to his first MVP consideration in years.
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