Examining and predicting which superstars could win the next five NBA MVP awards
With the 2019-20 NBA season at a standstill for the time being because of COVID-19, it’s a dismal time to be a basketball fan. We were in the midst of a very exciting playoff race in both the Eastern and Western Conferences before all contests were postponed.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was arguably enjoying his best campaign yet for the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks and definitely looked like one of the favorites to win his second consecutive MVP award. Meanwhile, James Harden was averaging a ridiculous 34.4 points per night and was making himself a serious contender for the award as well.
The future of the 2019-20 season is still up in the air, but one thing is certain; the association has so many exciting players who could win Most Valuable Player in the future. Looking back at the winners of the prestigious award, it’s usually a player who leads his team to greatness, whether it’s winning an NBA championship or simply taking his organization deep into the playoffs.
Rookies like Ja Morant and Zion Williamson flashed star potential in their rookie seasons, possessing the necessary franchise-changing abilities to win MVP in the future.
With many superstars in consideration, let’s predict the next five Most Valuable Player winners, starting with this season, which is yet to be concluded.
2019-20 MVP winner: Giannis Antetokounmpo
At the rate that Milwaukee was winning, it’s hard to not give the Greek Freak his second-straight MVP award. Antetokounmpo was averaging 29.6 points, 13.7 boards, and 5.8 assists per game while playing only 31 minutes a night. He also improved his ability to shoot the 3, sinking 30.6 percent of his 3’s compared to just 25 percent last season.
The 6-foot-11 forward was an unstoppable force all year long and if the playoffs did resume as planned, his Bucks were one of the clear favorites to lift the Larry O’Brien trophy. Giannis led his team to the best net rating in the NBA, while also sitting first in offensive rating and rebounds per contest.
Although Harden was fantastic for the Rockets, he didn’t lead his team to playoff glory. Antetokounmpo was the backbone of Milwaukee all year long and without his nightly dominance, they wouldn’t have been the best team in the NBA who outscored their opponents by a ridiculous 11.2 points per game.
Arguably the best all-around player in the NBA on both sides of the ball, the Greek Freak earned the 2020 MVP award by putting up breathtaking stats and leading the Bucks to the top record in the league.
2020-21 MVP winner: Kawhi Leonard
Despite leading the Toronto Raptors to their first-ever NBA title last year, Leonard still didn’t win the MVP award, losing out to Antetokounmpo. He made the switch back to his hometown of LA in the offseason, linking up with Paul George to form a dynamic duo for the Clippers.
There were some trials and tribulations for Doc Rivers‘ team in the first season with their new superstars, but I do think 2020-21 is going to be Kawhi’s year to flourish. From a points standpoint, 2019-20 was his best season yet and he will build off that next year as he feels more comfortable with the Clippers. Leonard has always been one of the elite two-way players in the NBA, but it’s not until he arrived in LA where he became an even better facilitator as well.
Staying healthy has always been an issue for Leonard. However, next season is going to be the year where he plays at least 70 games and makes his case for an MVP award while leading the Clippers deep into the playoffs. The 28-year-old will put up career-highs in points, rebounds, and assists, averaging just under 30 points a game.
He is never afraid of the big moment, always stepping up in pressure situations and hitting the big shot. With a decorated NBA resume behind him including two NBA championships while winning Finals MVP both times, it’s Kawhi’s turn to finally capture league MVP.
2021-22 MVP: Anthony Davis
Despite how consistent Davis was with New Orleans, there was no way he would ever win an MVP award given the team’s struggles. Two seasons after moving to the Lakers, Davis could have already captured an NBA title with LeBron James; only time will tell. But by 2021, James will be inching very close to retirement, leaving AD as the franchise star in Tinseltown.
His career numbers are outstanding, to say the least, and as he inches closer to his prime, who knows what heights Davis could reach. 24 points and 10.4 rebounds per night through his first eight seasons in the league is impressive, but the best is yet to come.
Another possibility is that Davis leaves LA and joins a superteam by this time, or they form one with the Lakers. Either way, he’s not going to be on a losing team again. Winning changes everything, especially when it comes to capturing an MVP award. He has been one of the best players in the league for ten years by this point and has proven to be worthy of winning Most Valuable Player.
2022-23 MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo…again
One of the most physically gifted players ever, there’s no way the Greek Freak won’t win another MVP award. At this point, he will be 28 years old, which could be his peak from a performance standpoint. Antetokounmpo will be a well-experienced player by 2022 and could be more than just a monster in the paint. He could also be draining three’s at an uncanny rate by then, making his all-around game even more deadly.
Whether he’s still with the Bucks three years from now is unknown, but despite who Antetokounmpo is playing for, he’ll still be one of the top all-around players in the NBA.
There could be many high-level two-way players by 2022, but it will be hard to beat a guy with the length and athleticism of Giannis. At 28, he could very well be even more physically imposing. We all know the amount of muscle he put on in his first couple of years in the league. There’s no telling just how much stronger Antetokounmpo could get from here on.
2023-24 MVP winner: Zion Williamson
The question is, will it really take this long for Williamson to win an MVP award? Based on the small sample size from this season, the Pelicans star is well on his way to a very prolific NBA career. By 2022, Williamson could potentially be the best player in the NBA at just 23-years old. His strength, athleticism, skill, and IQ for the game is second to none, making him one of the most exciting players in the league.
In just 19 games this season, Williamson dropped 23.6 points and grabbed 6.8 boards per game, while draining 46 percent of his attempts from downtown. He injected a ray of hope into the Pelicans organization while living up to all the hype that’s followed him since he was 16-years old.
There is no doubt that with the current core they have in NOLA, they’re well on their way to rebuilding this team with Zion at the forefront. Usually, players don’t win MVP at such a young age, with most capturing the award in their mid to late 20’s. Derrick Rose is the youngest player to ever win MVP at 22-years old, but with Williamson’s early dominance, he looks well on his way to being named Most Valuable Player by 2023-24 at the very latest.