Draymond Green is not leaving much room for Luka Doncic in the MVP conversation.
On a recent episode of his podcast with Taylor Rooks, the Golden State Warriors veteran made the case that this season could be Doncic’s final realistic shot at the award. Green pointed to the way elite scorers can get overlooked once their production becomes expected.
"Luka will never win MVP in the NBA. This is the last possible year he can win it.
Because if Luka goes and averages 34 a game, they'll go, 'Oh yeah, of course Luka averaged 34.' It won't be viewed as somebody averaging those numbers.
People get fatigued of it," Green said on an episode of his podcast alongside show guest Taylor Rooks.
The point Green is making is simple: Doncic has long been good enough to belong in the MVP mix, but he has still not gotten over the hump. Even with eight elite seasons behind him, he has yet to seriously threaten the award.
That hasn’t stopped Doncic from putting together the kind of regular seasons that keep him in the discussion. Whether he is doing it for the Los Angeles Lakers or the Dallas Mavericks, the production has been there. The problem, at least in Green’s view, is that the bar around him keeps moving.
Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remain major forces in the race, with the two of them combining for five MVPs. Victor Wembanyama has also entered the conversation and is viewed as the favorite in NBA circles.
Green also tied Jayson Tatum to the same kind of voter fatigue, suggesting the league can get so used to elite numbers that they stop standing out when award season arrives. For Doncic, the message from Green was blunt: win now, because the door may not stay open much longer.
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