MVP candidates who have yet to win the award

Here's a quick question for NBA trivia buffs: Who is the last person to win the Most Valuable Player award who is no longer an active player in the association?

Believe it or not, it's Karl Malone, who won the second of his two MVPs for the lockout-shortened 1999 season with the Utah Jazz.

In the 10 seasons since Malone took home the Maurice Podoloff trophy, eight players have won the award — and all eight are still (more or less) productive players in the league.

The Jazz found out first-hand on Tuesday night that 2006-07 MVP Dirk Nowitzki is still capable of MVP-like games when he almost single-handedly rallied the Mavericks from a 16-point deficit to an 11-point win.

A couple of the other former MVPs — namely Cleveland's Shaquille O'Neal and Memphis' Allen Iverson — are on the tail ends of their Hall of Fame-worthy careers and aren't MVP candidates anymore.

But most of the rest could still finish among the top vote-getters for the award this season. The past two winners — LeBron James and Kobe Bryant — obviously enter the 2009-10 campaign as the odds-on favorites once again.

But who could step up and win the award should James, Bryant and the other former MVPs fail to come through?

Here's a look at the Top 10 MVP candidates who could win the award for the first time this season:

1. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

For him: Wade led the Heat to an NBA title in 2006, which gives him plenty of credibility, as does his 2008-09 scoring title. Has to be considered the top MVP candidate among all the players in the league not named LeBron or Kobe. He finished third in the voting last season.

Against him: The Heat, while off to an impressive start, aren't likely to finish with one of the top five records in the league. MVP voters like to pick the top player from a title-contending club.

Odds: 5 to 1

2. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

For him: Howard is the best center in the NBA. His team is coming off an Eastern Conference title run and he is well-liked by the media members who do the MVP voting.

Against him: He's already battling a sore shoulder. Plus, his scoring numbers aren't likely to be as gaudy as James', Bryant's and Wade's — although he will put up huge numbers in rebounds and blocked shots.

Odds: 6 to 1

3. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets