Making a case for Luka Doncic MVP
Photo Credit: https://www.si.com/nba/mavericks/news/luka-doncic-dallas-mavs-golden-state-warriors-injury-report-maxi-kleber
Luka Doncic is undoubtedly having the best statistical year of his career. Yet, in a season where Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, until he went down with an injury, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have dominated the MVP conversation, Doncic hasn’t been mentioned much in that group.
Luka is putting up his best numbers in his career. His stats are:
33.9 points per game, 9.2 rebounds per game, 9.8 assists per game, and 1.5 steals per game
Currently, the Dallas Mavericks are the 5th seed in the Western Conference and are only two games back from the Los Angeles Clippers for the 4th seed. If the Mavs move up to the 4th seed, it will be very hard to easily hand Nikola Jokic the MVP.
In recent years, only 2 MVPs were given to players below the 3rd seed. Those players were Nikola Jokic in 2021 and Russell Westbrook in 2016.
Nikola Jokic’s stats in 2021:
27.1 PPG, 13.8 RPG, 7.6 APG, and 1.5 SPG
Russell Westbrook's stats in 2016:
31.6 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 10.4 APG, and 1.6 SPG
Doncic is putting up very similar numbers this season, including an incredible 73-pt performance on January 26.
Compared to all the other MVP candidates, Doncic has the weakest roster. His co-star, Kyrie Irving, has been out for 22 games this season, leaving Luka to take most of the load of the offense. When Luka Doncic plays, his net offensive rating is 112.3, second behind the Boston Celtics. If Luka Doncic were not the Mavericks, then the team would be nowhere in playoff contention as they are now.
With only a few games left in the regular season, do you think it’s too late for Luka Doncic to win his first MVP?