The last time an American-born player walked away with the top honor was James Harden in 2018. The run of international players winning MVP -- Gilgeous-Alexander is from Canada -- speaks to the expanding global reach of the NBA and the increased number of talent outside of the United States.

While it's a testament to the international growth of the game that winners have come from Canada, Serbia, Cameroon and Greece, it also means American-born players are lagging behind the league's elite.

Dive deep into the 2025 NBA MVP race between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, exploring their historic seasons, team success, and the unprecedented playoff timing of the announcement.