As the 2025-26 NBA regular season races toward an electrifying finish, the MVP conversation is sizzling. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and San Antonio's towering talent, Victor Wembanyama, are leading the charge, but don't sleep on Los Angeles Lakers' superstar Luka Doncic.
Just last week, Doncic was riding high at second on the MVP ladder, but the latest rankings have him unexpectedly slipping to fourth. Despite dropping consecutive 40-point games, this shift has left fans and analysts alike scratching their heads.
Austin Reaves, ever the candid teammate, didn't mince words about the MVP voters after another dazzling performance from Doncic. "He continues to drop in the MVP race, which is insane to me.
I guess it don’t really matter, maybe he’s gotta score 60, I don’t know," Reaves vented post-game. His comments came on the heels of Doncic lighting up the Crypto.com Arena, dominating the Brooklyn Nets with a show-stopping 41 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals, and a block in 39 minutes.
Reaves himself chipped in a solid 26 points, helping the Lakers cruise to a 116-99 victory.
The buzz around Doncic's MVP ranking has ignited a lively debate among fans. Many argue that his name should be at the top of the list. Doncic, too, has voiced his perplexity, quipping, "The better I play, the more I go DOWN in rankings, so I don’t know what more I can do."
While the MVP race remains a hot topic, Doncic's impact on the Lakers is undeniable. They've been on a tear, winning 14 of their last 16 games, and currently hold third place in the Western Conference with a 48-26 record.
Next up, they face the Washington Wizards at home, where Doncic and the Lakers will look to keep their momentum rolling. The MVP award may still be up for grabs, but one thing's for sure: Doncic is leading the Lakers with undeniable brilliance.