Luka Doncic has been lighting up the court for the Los Angeles Lakers this 2025-26 NBA season, yet he seems to be flying under the radar in the MVP conversation. ESPN's latest MVP straw poll, released on Friday, shows Doncic outside the top five-a surprising position given his stellar performance.
Here's how the voting shook out:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 930 points
- Nikola Jokic: 700 points
- Cade Cunningham: 382 points
- Victor Wembanyama: 242 points
- Luka Doncic: 177 points
Despite his impressive stats, Doncic didn't receive any first-place votes from the 100 media members polled. The six-time All-Star managed just two second-place votes, a tally that seems low considering his contributions.
Doncic is averaging 32.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. As the league’s leading scorer, he's propelled the Lakers to a solid 33-21 record. While he might not be the clear MVP frontrunner, being this far down the list feels off.
WNBA legend Candace Parker has drawn parallels between Doncic's situation and the way Kobe Bryant was often overlooked for MVP honors. Parker suggests that people might be taking Doncic's consistent excellence for granted, similar to how they did with Bryant.
Back in 2024, Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander were ahead of Doncic in the MVP race, and they remain at the top this season, albeit in a different order.
Gilgeous-Alexander is putting up 31.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game for the Oklahoma City Thunder. With the Thunder leading the West at 42-14, he earned 78 first-place votes, a testament to his impact.
Nikola Jokic, meanwhile, is averaging 28.5 points, 12.4 rebounds, 10.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game for the Denver Nuggets. Despite missing 16 games due to injury, Jokic still managed to secure 18 first-place votes, thanks to his dominance in rebounds and assists. However, he's walking a tightrope with the 65-game eligibility rule, as he can only afford to miss one more game this season.
Doncic, having missed 12 games, also faces eligibility concerns, as does Victor Wembanyama, who is fourth in the poll. Wembanyama is averaging 24.2 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 2.7 blocks per game for the San Antonio Spurs, who boast a 39-16 record. Though he's missed 14 games, Wembanyama is a strong candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, an award he narrowly missed last season due to limited games played.
Rounding out the top five is Cade Cunningham, who's averaging 25.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 9.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game for the Detroit Pistons. With the Pistons sitting at a league-best 42-13, Cunningham's MVP case grows stronger, especially if some of his competitors become ineligible.
His coach, J.B. Bickerstaff, certainly believes Cunningham should be at the forefront of the MVP discussion.
As the season progresses, the MVP race remains as thrilling as ever, with each player making a compelling case for the coveted award.