Six under-the-radar NBA MVP candidates you need to keep an eye on in the 2023-24 season

We know the NBA MVP candidates. They are the usual suspects based on the past few seasons: Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid – those three have won the past five MVPs.

Embiid won the award in 2023, Jokic in 2022 and 2021 and Antetokounmpo in 2020 and 2019 – all finished 1-2-3 last season followed by Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Dallas’ Luka Doncic finished eighth last season and fifth in 2022. He’s among the favorites again this season.

And past winners, such as Golden State’s Stephen Curry and Phoenix’s Kevin Durant, will get mentions. But keep in mind, just two players 35 or older have won MVP: Karl Malone at 36 and Michael Jordan at 35. Curry turns 36 this season and Durant just turned 35.

But who are the under-the-radar candidates on the verge of entering the MVP discussion? Let’s take a look:

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards

Edwards, 22, made his first All-Star team last season yet has not made an All-NBA team. It would be quite a leap from missing the All-NBA one season to winning MVP the next. However, the 6-4 Edwards is trending in the right direction after averaging 24.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.6 steals and shooting 45.9% from the field and 36.9% on 3-pointers in his third season in 2022-23.

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray

On the same team with two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who is still in his prime and coming off a Finals MVP and title, it’s hard for another player to break into the MVP conversation. But Murray, 26, is healthy and confident after his own impressive playoff run last season at 26.1 points, 7.1 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 47.3% shooting from the field and 39.6% shooting on 3s. A full season like that would make it difficult to ignore Murray, who is aiming for his first All-Star and/or All-NBA selection.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell

Mitchell earned his first All-NBA selection and his fourth All-Star appearance last season, posting career highs (28.3 points and 48.4% shooting) in his first season with the Cavs in 2022-23. He also averaged 4.4 assists and 4.3 rebounds, flirting with 25-5-5 stats. If Cleveland is a top 3-4 team in the East, Mitchell, who finished sixth in voting last season, will be among the top contenders.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson

This is all contingent on Williamson’s ability to stay healthy and on the court for 65-plus games, which he has been unable to do in his four seasons: 24 games in 2019-20, 61 in 2020-21, no games in 2021-22 and 29 in 2022-23. But when he’s on the court, he is a force and makes the Pelicans better. In limited action, Williamson averaged 26.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.1 steals and shot 60.8% from the field last season. Can he do that for a full season?

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Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard

Lillard, 33, is coming off a career high in scoring (32.2 points per game) and matched a career high in shooting percentage (.463). He averaged 7.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds and shot 37.1% on 3s. Lillard could be even more efficient playing alongside Antetokounmpo. However, Lillard, who finished fourth in MVP voting in 2017-18, needs to be better than Antetokounmpo, and Steve Nash in 2005-06 is the last player to win MVP in his 30s.

Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox

Fox earned an All-Star appearance and All-NBA selection for a season in which he averaged 25.0 points, 6.1 assists, 4.2 rebounds and shot 51.2% from the field, helping the Kings to a 48-34 record and their first playoff appearance since 2006. Fox received two fifth-place votes for MVP last season. His teammate, Domantas Sabonis, was seventh in the MVP race, but if Fox increases his assists and rebounds, improves his 3-point shooting and maintains his scoring and overall shooting, Fox will be part of the conversation.

Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on X @JeffZillgitt