The Los Angeles Lakers are riding high this season, thanks in large part to the stellar play of Luka Doncic. On Friday, Doncic delivered a standout performance, dropping 41 points in a victory over the Brooklyn Nets. His impressive showing has sparked conversations about his candidacy for the league's Most Valuable Player award.
After the game, Doncic shared his thoughts on the MVP race, saying, “The better I play, the more I go down in rankings, so I don’t know what more I can do.”
With this win, the Lakers improved to 48-26 on the season. Doncic, in his first full season with the Lakers following a trade from Dallas during the 2024-25 campaign, is lighting up the scoreboard with an average of nearly 34 points per game.
The MVP conversation this year also includes other top performers like San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama and Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. However, Doncic's recent form has been nothing short of electrifying. He's scored over 40 points in each of his last two outings, including a jaw-dropping 60-point game against the Miami Heat.
“The better I play, the more I go down in rankings, so I don’t know what more I can do.”
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 28, 2026
Luka Doncic shares his thoughts on the MVP race 👀pic.twitter.com/0EgLZxw5LK
The league is taking notice of Doncic's incredible run. He was named the Western Conference Player of the Week for the second consecutive week, highlighting his averages of 39.7 points on 48.9% shooting (39.3% from beyond the arc), along with 8.1 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 2.5 steals over his last 12 games. During this stretch, the Lakers have posted an impressive 11-1 record.
Yet, not everything is smooth sailing for Doncic, as he picked up his 16th technical foul of the season during the game against the Nets, which could lead to a suspension. Lakers coach JJ Redick mentioned, “I'm sure we will appeal it.”
Looking ahead, the Lakers are set to face the Washington Wizards on Monday, riding the momentum of winning nine of their last 10 games. With Doncic at the helm, the Lakers are proving to be a formidable force in the league.