These NBA MVP candidates are on the rise. Will this be a breakthrough season?

Headed into the 2022-23 NBA season, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was not yet an All-Star, All-NBA selection or MVP candidate.

That changed that season when Gilgeous-Alexander became an All-Star and first-team All-NBA performer and finished fifth in MVP voting. He was a repeat All-Star and first-team All-NBA selection last season, and was MVP runner-up.

Who is the next SGA, the next player to move deep into the MVP conversation?

Among the possibilities: New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards; Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox; San Antonio Spurs forward-center Victor Wembanyama; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton; Boston Celtics guard-forward Jaylen Brown; and New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson.

Who from that group could become a significant part of the MVP discussion? They could join the main candidates such as Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Boston’s Jayson Tatum, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. (Odds for the favorites included below).

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards

Anthony Edwards made the All-NBA team for the first time and finished seventh in MVP voting in 2023-24. Just 23 years old and improving, Edwards is on the verge of becoming a top-five player. Edwards, who won a gold medal with USA Basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics, averaged career highs in points (25.9), assists (5.1), field goal percentage (46.1%) and free throw percentage (83.6%) and helped the Timberwolves reach the Western Conference finals last season.

“The talent is overwhelming and as he continues to learn how to use it and be efficient in his play, he will be unguardable,” U.S. men’s senior coach and Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

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New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson

Zion Williamson, 24, played in a career-high 70 games last season, and the Pelicans won 49 – just two victories behind fourth place in the West. Williamson had plenty to do with that. We know how injuries have altered his career but if he’s healthy this season and improves on his 2023-24 season (22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals per game and 57% shooting from the field), Williamson, the No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft, will be in position to make his first All-NBA team and be a legit MVP contender.

San Antonio Spurs forward-center Victor Wembanyama

How close is a second-year player to MVP? We’re going to find out with 20-year-old Victor Wembanyama this season. Who has been a legit MVP candidate in his second season? LeBron James finished sixth in his second season, and Shaquille O’Neal finished seventh in his rookie season and fourth in his second season. Winning is part of the MVP equation so the Spurs will need to be much better. But there’s no question that Wembanyama’s rookie season portends favorably for his ascent into NBA stardom after generating 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and a league-best 3.6 blocks per game in his rookie-of-the-year campaign in 2023-24.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell

Donovan Mitchell, 28, is a five-time All-Star and one-time All-NBA performer and has just one season where he received MVP consideration – in 2022-23 when he finished sixth for the award. The Cavaliers invested in Mitchell and convinced him to stay on a three-year, $150 million extension that can keep him with Cleveland through at least 2026-27. The Cavs believe he is a leading man on a contender, which often equates to MVP candidate.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey

Tyrese Maxey, 23, had a breakout season, averaging career highs in points (25.9), assists (6.2), rebounds (3.7) and steals (1.0) and making his first All-Star team in his fourth season. However, playing alongside 2022-23 MVP Joel Embiid, who should be in the running for the award again this season, makes it difficult for Maxey. But Maxey's play merits the recognition as an MVP-caliber player.

Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox

De’Aaron Fox, 26, received All-NBA votes but didn’t make one of the three teams last season after earning All-NBA third team in 2022-23. Fox posted career highs in points (26.6), rebounds (4.6) and steals (league-best 2.0) per game while shooting 46.5% from the field and 36.9% 3s last season. More wins will help his case and he also has a teammate, Domantas Sabonis, who receives MVP consideration.

Boston Celtics guard-forward Jaylen Brown

Joining a few other players on this list, Jaylen Brown, who turns 28 on Thursday, has a teammate who is an MVP contender (Jayson Tatum). But Brown was the 2024 Finals MVP and Eastern Conference finals MVP and an All-Star in 2023-24 for the third time in four seasons. But he fell just short of All-NBA (he was 16th in voting and top 15 make All-NBA), averaging 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals. He shot 49.9% from the field and 35.4% on 3s.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant

Before his career veered with a suspension related to gun videos on social media and a season-ending shoulder injury after just nine games last season, Ja Morant’s trajectory blared “MVP candidate.” Morant, 25, was an All-Star, All-NBA and seventh in MVP voting in 2021-22 and an All-Star and 12th in MVP voting in 2022-23. In his five-year career, Morant averages 25.1 points, 8.1 assists, 5.6 rebounds and shoots 47.1% from the field, 31.8% on 3s and 75.5% on free throws.

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton

Tyrese Haliburton, 24, was an All-Star for the second consecutive season and All-NBA for the first time in 2023-24. He averaged 20.1 points and an NBA-best 10.9 assists – his second consecutive season with 10-plus assists per game. He also shot 47.7% from the field, 36.4% on 3s and 85.5% on free throws. He averaged 1.2 steals. Expectations are high for the Pacers, who reached the Eastern Conference finals in May, and for Haliburton.

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson

Yes, Jalen Brunson, 28, finished fifth in MVP voting last season, however, 2023-24 also marked his first All-Star appearance and first All-NBA selection. His ascent is as unexpected as it is enjoyable. He averaged a career-best 28.7 points and 6.7 assists with 3.6 rebounds and shot 47.9% from the field, 40.1% on 3s and 84.7% on free throws. With the squad the Knicks have assembled, including additions Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns, Brunson has MVP appeal.

2024-25 NBA MVP odds

Here are the 2024-25 NBA MVP odds, courtesy of BetMGM:

Luka Doncic +350

Nikola Jokic +425

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander +450

Joel Embiid +800

Giannis Antetokounmpo +1000

Anthony Edwards +1300

Jalen Brunson +1400

Victor Wembanyama +2000

Jayson Tatum +2500

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Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2024-25 NBA season: These 10 MVP candidates are on the rise