Preseason NBA MVP rankings: Can a new contender join the Big Three?

There have been three Most Valuable Player winners in the last five seasons, with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and, most recently, Joel Embiid hogging the trophy from the rest of the league. Can anyone else make a push for the NBA's top individual award?

10. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

2022-23 season averages

After a disappointing campaign with Team USA at the FIBA World Cup, Edwards will look to bounce back by following a path set by other Americans: reaching another level in the NBA after competing in the summer tournament. James Harden in 2014 and Kevin Durant in 2010 are examples of players who had stellar campaigns after competing at the World Cup.

The 22-year-old phenom was given more offensive responsibility last season as Karl-Anthony Towns missed 53 games due to a calf injury. With the 27-year-old returning to the lineup fully healthy, it remains to be seen how head coach Chris Finch will split opportunities between Edwards and Towns. Will the young guard still be the first option, or does KAT take the lead role again?

9. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

Overshadowed by the Suns' tough start, a lengthy injury, and the addition of superstar Durant, Booker quietly put up career highs in both points per game and field-goal percentage last season. That solid campaign was only amplified by a tremendous playoff run, where he led the league in scoring at 33.7 points per game on hyper-efficient 58.5% shooting from the field and 50.8% from beyond the arc.

Booker will look to carry that momentum over to a new-look Phoenix squad that features a full season of Durant and the addition of ex-Wizards star Bradley Beal. Booker could carry a decent portion of the ball-handling duties alongside his other high-scoring teammates. If his assist numbers shoot up while he remains an efficient bucket-getter and the Suns climb to the top of the Western Conference standings, Booker has a shot to soar up these rankings.

8. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers' title chances rest on Davis' shoulders, but a healthy regular season could produce an MVP award. The big man has come close in the past, finishing fifth in 2014-15 and third in 2017-18 as a member of the New Orleans Pelicans. Health has always been the concern with Davis, as he hasn't played in more than 60 games since 2019-20.

L.A. plays better with Davis in the lineup, going 31-25 with him compared to 12-14 when he sat last year. With the Lakers coming off an improbable playoff run as a No. 7 seed last season, a standout campaign where the veteran big leads the team to one of the best records in the league with impactful scoring and shutdown defense could be enough for the award.

7. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

Excluding 2019-20, when he played just five games, Curry has been in the top 10 in MVP voting in nine straight seasons, making his inclusion on this list a no-brainer. Even at age 35, so long as the Warriors are among the better teams in the NBA, and Curry is still running around the floor hitting impossible 3-pointers, he'll always be in the running for the award.

Curry showed no signs of slowing down last year, putting together his most efficient campaign in years while setting a career high in rebounding. Whether he can climb higher up this list as the year goes on will largely depend on his role, as he averaged over 20 field-goal attempts per game for just the third time in his career in 2022-23.

6. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Another player coming off a FIBA World Cup, Gilgeous-Alexander has to be feeling great about his efforts this summer. Building off a first-team All-NBA selection, he led Canada to its first medal showing at the World Cup - beating the rival United States for the bronze. SGA finished second in total points, scoring 196 over eight games.

The Thunder will need to take that final jump and make the playoffs for SGA to win the award, avoiding the play-in tournament to ensure a proper shot. Players like Russell Westbrook and Jokic have won MVP while playing for a lower-seeded team in the playoffs. SGA would need an all-time campaign in that scenario to be in the conversation for the award - but that would matter less if OKC finishes as one of the top teams in the Western Conference.

5. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Outside of Tatum last season, the only player in NBA history to average 30 points and eight rebounds per game while making at least 200 threes is Westbrook during his 2016-17 MVP campaign. That's pretty elite company for the 25-year-old Tatum, who led the league in total points last year.

Though the additions of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday may slightly cut into Tatum's gaudy scoring numbers, they'll also give him the opportunity to become even more efficient and increase his assists. Plus, if those new pieces push Boston even higher up the standings after finishing second in the East last season, it may make Tatum a true top-tier candidate for the award.

4. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

After a disappointing campaign for the Mavericks last season that resulted in them missing the playoffs, there's renewed spirit to return to the postseason in Dallas. Doncic will lead the team in that effort after being a candidate for the MVP award over the last few seasons, finishing in the top 10 in voting on four occasions.

Returning to the postseason will be a necessity for him to win the award, as well as another strong individual campaign. The Slovenian superstar has averaged at least 27 points over the last four seasons, including a career-high 32.4 last year. However, a preseason calf strain could hamper the start of Doncic's season if the injury nags him moving forward.

3. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

Perhaps it's a bit unfair to slot the reigning Most Valuable Player at No. 3 to begin this season, but there are simply more questions surrounding Embiid than the top two candidates. There's no doubt that the Cameroonian big man is the most dominant scorer in the league and will put up tremendous stats, but the uncertainty of running mate Harden's future in Philadelphia alongside a coaching change from Doc Rivers to Nick Nurse could mean a bumpier road than last year.

Plus, although the MVP is a regular-season award, there's no denying that Embiid's continuous missteps in the playoffs have slightly dampened his reputation in the eyes of many. After leading the league and setting a personal best of 33.1 points per game last year, it may take even more to see the third two-peat in as many MVP winners.

2. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

A two-time MVP, Jokic's chance to go for the three-peat was thwarted last season by Embiid despite the Serbian star putting up maybe his best effort for the award. Jokic led the Nuggets to the best record in the West after finishing sixth and third in the conference in the prior two seasons. He also upped his efficiency and his playmaking but slowed down his effort and scoring to end the campaign.

The Nuggets will need Jokic more during the regular season while the team integrates new players into the rotation after losing veterans Bruce Brown and Jeff Green. With questions about the bench, his elevated play would keep Denver competitive as well as cement him as a firm contender in the MVP race. Even with the bigger goal of repeating as champions, Jokic might just be motivated to win the award again after losing out.

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Antetokounmpo has put up near-identical numbers across the last three seasons following his back-to-back MVPs in 2019 and 2020. And yet, whether it's been his inability to add a consistent 3-pointer, the Bucks' playoff issues, or just general complacency from those covering the NBA, Giannis hasn't been voted in the top two of the league's top award since he last won it.

Now that his fellow megastars in Embiid and Jokic have had their time in the limelight, it may be the year for Antetokounmpo to reclaim his pole position. Adding Damian Lillard should help in multiple ways. Not only will Milwaukee remain in contention for the top record in basketball after nabbing that spot last year, but the elite gravity that a phenomenal shooter such as Lillard puts on opposing defenses should make it even easier for Antetokounmpo to get to his spots. That's a scary thought for the rest of the NBA.

Honorable mentions: LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers), Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns), Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)