The NBA is set to announce its Most Valuable Player award this Sunday, and the timing couldn't be more dramatic—it's just one day before Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs. This year's three finalists are a mix of familiar faces and rising stars: reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder, Spurs sensation Victor Wembanyama, and Denver's perennial powerhouse Nikola Jokic. The winner will be revealed during Amazon Prime Video's pregame show on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. EDT.

Whoever takes home the trophy, one thing is certain: it will mark the eighth consecutive season that an international player has claimed the NBA's top individual honor. This impressive streak began with Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo (born in Greece) in 2019 and 2020, followed by Jokic (Serbia) in 2021 and 2022, Joel Embiid (Cameroon) in 2023, Jokic again in 2024, and Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada) last year. Wembanyama would make history as the first French player to win MVP, while Jokic is chasing a fourth MVP trophy—a feat achieved only by legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (six), Michael Jordan (five), Bill Russell (five), Wilt Chamberlain (four), and LeBron James (four).

This would also be the 12th MVP award overall for an international player. Before the current run, Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigeria) won in 1994, Steve Nash (Canada) took home back-to-back honors in 2005 and 2006, and Dirk Nowitzki (Germany) earned the award in 2007. The announcement's timing might offer a clue: last year, Gilgeous-Alexander was named MVP on May 21, just before Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals in Oklahoma City. This year, the Sunday reveal comes a day before the Thunder host Game 1 of the West Finals on Monday night—a schedule that could hint at another home-court celebration for the reigning MVP.