Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic has been nothing short of phenomenal this season. For his impactful performances, the guard has even been hailed as an MVP candidate, though this has been a topic of debate in some circles.
Luka Doncic currently finds himself competing with Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. While players such as Wembanyama have been vocal about their claim on the prestigious award, following the Lakers’ 127-113 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, Doncic seemed less inclined to take the same approach.
“I never did that,” Doncic responded. “I’m not the one voting. But I think I’ve been playing pretty good. We’ve been winning. That’s it. That’s all I gotta say.”
Strangely, Luka Doncic’s approach almost mirrors the confidence shown by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was asked a similar question after his 47-point outburst against the Detroit Pistons on Monday night.
While Doncic’s comment doesn’t actively shed light on his accomplishments, the subtle details reveal why he deserves to be considered a viable MVP candidate.
Luka Doncic has been impressive this season. Barring his averages of 33.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game this season, however, Doncic’s performances this month have been otherworldly.
In March itself, Doncic has posted over 600 points, making him one of ten players in history to do so. On top of this, he has also passed Kobe Bryant for the most points by a Laker in a single month, further etching his name in franchise history.
The Lakers’ 50-26 record and their active four-game winning streak are a clear indication of how impactful Luka Doncic has been. With averages of 37.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game, Doncic has been one of the most dominant players in the league this month.
Rui Hachimura Advocates for Luka Doncic
It goes without saying that Luka Doncic has received significant support from the fans as an MVP candidate. To that note, Lakers head coach JJ Redick has also been active in making a case for Doncic.
Although many have disputed this, highlighting the effect of recency bias, Lakers forward Rui Hachimura shared why Doncic should be considered the MVP during his postgame media availability.
“You can see he’s the MVP,” Hachimura stated. “I don’t really know everything about it, but I can only see he’s the MVP of this league. What he does, what he brings to the game every game, literally.”
“People talk about his defense, but he’s been getting good stops, steals, and boxing out. Those little stuff he’s been doing on the court. So, it’s been amazing.”
Much of the debate about Luka Doncic not being on par with some of the other candidates stems from the criticism of his defensive involvement. While Doncic is not an elite two-way player by any means, his averages of 1.7 steals and 0.5 blocks per game this season reveal that he hasn’t been a liability either.
When compared to a player like Wembanyama, Doncic may pale in comparison as a defender. However, it can then be argued that the Lakers’ superstar has a considerably bigger role to play on the offensive end, where he has asserted himself as one of the best.
For the most part, the narratives seem to be negatively impacting Luka Doncic’s case, with the superstar falling down the MVP ladder despite his scintillating performances lately. Considering how much sway the media has in dictating the eventual winner, Doncic’s chances are slim.
