Three surprise players who could join the NBA MVP race

Heading into the 2024-25 season, Luka Doncic (+360), Nikola Jokic (+400), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+500), Joel Embiid (+700) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (+900) are the current betting favorites for the NBA MVP Award, per FanDuel. Each of these stars can score effortlessly and leads a team likely to secure a top-four finish in their conference—two key factors for MVP consideration. However, a select group of dark horse candidates are flying under the radar, poised to shake up the race.

Let’s look at three players who could unexpectedly enter the 2024-25 MVP conversation.

Ja Morant

Right after we’re born — screaming and vulnerable — our parents beam with hope, believing we have the power to conquer the world. At the end, as we lie frail and diminished, it can be hard to muster even a few words. In between… well, anything is possible. 

No one in the NBA embodies this more than Ja Morant. Off-court madness could derail his season once again. Maybe he’ll surpass Latrell Sprewell’s record 68-game suspension. On the other hand, he has the talent to explode on the league and catapult the Grizzlies up the standings.

The first two games of the regular season will be telling. Memphis opens on the road against Utah and then heads to Houston — two very winnable showdowns. 

If Morant attacks the paint relentlessly with a chip on his shoulder, driven by last year’s constant struggles, and guides the Grizzlies to two convincing victories, it could signal the beginning of a special season. However, if Morant flounders and Memphis drops one or both contests, it may show this squad will need time to gel — a luxury it can’t afford in a competitive Western Conference. Such a start could quickly dim Morant’s MVP prospects.

Zion Williamson

During the Pelicans’ 2023-24 play-in game against the Lakers, it looked like Zion Williamson was finally ready to silence his critics. After years of battling injuries and enduring constant scrutiny over his weight, he was leading New Orleans with an audacious 40-point performance, fueling a dramatic comeback against an L.A. team that had gone 3-1 against them in the regular season. 

Then, it was the same old story. Moments after tying the game at 95 with a layup over LeBron James, Williamson went down with a non-contact leg injury. The Lakers won by four, and Williamson was forced to watch from the sidelines as the Pelicans limped into the playoffs as the 8th seed, only to be swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.

Williamson enters the 2024-25 season ready to make a statement. According to The Athletic’s William Guillory, he’s taken serious steps to stay in peak shape, hiring a personal chef to manage his weight and committing to two-a-day workouts throughout the summer. However, questions loom over the Pelicans’ roster. With center Jonas Valanciunas leaving for Toronto, New Orleans has a hole in the middle. Additionally, Brandon Ingram’s fit is uncertain after the Pelicans acquired Dejounte Murray in a trade with the Hawks.

We've already witnessed Williamson's potential for top-10 production when healthy, evident in his 27.0 points per game on 61.1% shooting during the 2020-21 season. If New Orleans can move Ingram in exchange for a reliable center, and Williamson stays on the court, the Pelicans could be a dangerous team, propelling him into the MVP race.

Anthony Davis

Panic always sets in throughout Lakerland with anything less than a championship. L.A.’s front office added fuel to the fire by staying quiet during the offseason and not making a major trade.

Sometimes, all that’s necessary is a deep breath.

New head coach JJ Redick plans to stick with the starting five that propelled the Lakers to a 23-10 record last season: D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. This lineup boasted a .679 winning percentage, which would have earned them the fourth seed in the fiercely competitive Western Conference.

Of course, things aren’t that cut and dry. Luckily for Lakers fans, there is more good news. L.A.’s top three perimeter defenders — Jared Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent and Cam Reddish — are returning from injury, strengthening a defense that finished 16th last year. 

Coming off a Second Team All-NBA selection after averaging 24.7 points and 12.6 rebounds per game, Davis is primed for an even bigger season. Redick has made it clear that Davis will be the focal point of the Lakers’ offense. He's emphasized his desire to get him more involved in all facets of the scoring attack, giving him the green light from deep and midrange. Redick’s strategy also includes utilizing LeBron James as a screener, a move designed to create easier opportunities for Davis at the rim.

If Davis can elevate his scoring average closer to 28 points per game, a mark he reached twice in 2016-17 and 2017-18, and the Lakers up their win total into the 50s, he could emerge as a legitimate MVP candidate.