In a thrilling display, the Los Angeles Lakers secured another win against the Brooklyn Nets, with Luka Doncic leading the charge. Doncic, who tops the NBA scoring charts, elevated his game even further, dropping 41 points on an impressive 15-of-25 shooting, including 5-of-10 from beyond the arc.
Despite his scoring prowess, Doncic finds himself slipping in the MVP race, a situation that has left many, including teammate Austin Reaves, baffled. “He continues to drop in the MVP race which is insane to me,” Reaves remarked post-game. “Maybe he’s gotta score 60, I don’t know.”
Doncic, speaking candidly in Spanish, expressed his desire to win the MVP but admitted uncertainty about how to influence the voting. “The better I play, the more I go down in ratings, so I don’t know what more I can do,” he shared.
It seems there might be a bias against Doncic and the Lakers, possibly due to their high-profile presence. As the Lakers continue to look like true title contenders, their increased visibility might be swaying voters to consider other candidates.
While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama are all strong contenders for the MVP, Doncic’s contributions are undeniable. He has positioned Los Angeles to potentially host the opening round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs and has the team firing on all cylinders offensively.
Opposing defenses have struggled to contain Doncic, and the Lakers have seamlessly adapted around his play. Initially pegged as an MVP candidate for the 2025-26 season, Doncic has lived up to those expectations, regardless of external opinions.
The question remains: what more must Doncic do to garner more MVP consideration? Regardless, he has certainly made a compelling case for himself.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick has been vocal in his support for Doncic’s MVP candidacy, praising his standout performances this season. Redick’s endorsement underscores the impact Doncic has had on the team and his MVP-worthy contributions.