Less than two months after his 22nd birthday, New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis learned Monday that he had finished fifth in voting for the NBA’s 2014-15 Most Valuable Player, yet another notable accomplishment for the rising star. By placing fifth – behind winner Stephen Curry, James Harden, LeBron James and Russell Westbrook – Davis became the youngest player to earn top-five status since 2009-2010, when 21-year-old Kevin Durant was an MVP runner-up behind James.
Derrick Rose and Durant were 22 years of age in 2010-11 when they took first place and fifth place, respectively, in the MVP race, but both players have fall birthdays and therefore were roughly five months older than Davis is today.