Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki projects to become the NBA's first European-born Most Valuable Player and the first to receive the award after playoff elimination in 25 years, according to The Republic's survey of 73 percent of MVP voters.

Counting 96 of the award's 132 voters, Nowitzki would outscore Phoenix two-time defending MVP Steve Nash 831 points to 778 (it is a 10-7-5-3-1 system). Nowitzki garnered 57 first-place votes to Nash's 37, likely ending Nash's bid to become the only player to win the award three times consecutively besides Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell.