Luka Doncic was clearly frustrated.
Before Friday’s match against the Nets, he had impressive averages of 40.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 2.6 steals across the Lakers’ last six games, marking the first time since Michael Jordan in 1986 that someone averaged 40 points over six road games.
Despite this, he dropped from 2nd to 4th on the MVP Ladder on NBA.com last week.
Following the Lakers’ 116-99 victory, where he scored 41 points on 60% shooting along with eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals, Doncic was irate when asked what winning the MVP meant to him.
“The better you play, the lower your rating goes,” Doncic said. “So I don’t know what more I can do.”
For Doncic, who isn’t known for being vocal, this was about as much of a self-advocacy plea as we’ve seen from him concerning the league’s top individual awards this season.
He might need to speak up more.
This week, Victor Wembanyama edged past Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to claim the top spot on the MVP ladder, putting forth an argument as if he were a lawyer swaying a jury. He highlighted that defense comprises half the game, noted that the Spurs beat Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder in four out of five encounters, and contended that offensive contributions extend beyond just scoring.
Wembanyama’s points went viral, prompting several analysts to rethink their views on the MVP race. (His 17 blocks in the last three games certainly helped the Spurs, who are now on a seven-game winning streak.)
Draymond Green, known for his articulate opinions and a defensive powerhouse, underscored the absurdity of Wembanyama’s comments being seen as groundbreaking.
“Everyone knows he has talent,” Green remarked about Wembanyama on Thursday. “Really? It’s frustrating he had to go through that to prove it. Suddenly, everyone thinks, ‘Hey, maybe Wenby is the MVP.’
However, the MVP award’s selection process is quite subjective. Different voters prioritize various factors—some value team standings, others focus on individual statistics, and some consider aspects not reflected in the box score, particularly defense.
Assertiveness can be beneficial. This sentiment comes from a prominent figure on the topic. Even straightforward observations can hold weight.
In Doncic’s case, he leads the league in scoring with an average of 33.6 points and ranks third in assists at 8.3. He has played a key role in the Lakers winning 14 of their last 16 games, including a streak of nine wins in a row.
While defense could be seen as a gap in his MVP case, he has also led the league in steals (41) since the All-Star break.
The competition is intensifying.
We have Gilgeous-Alexander, who stands out as the top player on the best team, Wembanyama making waves as an elite two-way player, Nikola Jokic, a triple-double powerhouse, and Jaylen Brown, leading the Celtics to second place in the East with Tatum sidelined for much of the season.
For Doncic, the MVP race hinges on the last nine games of the season, particularly with the Lakers set to face the Thunder twice soon. If he can outperform Gilgeous-Alexander, his chances of claiming the award would certainly rise.
Yet, it wouldn’t hurt for Doncic to be more assertive in the meantime.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s teammates have championed his worthiness for the award, while Brown has declared himself the best two-way player globally. Wembanyama seems to be positioning himself as a candidate, as well.
Doncic has missed opportunities to do the same.
After scoring 60 points against the Heat on March 19, inciting an “MVP” chant from the crowd, he was asked why he felt he didn’t receive more recognition.
What did he say?
“It’s you guys, the media,” he replied. “I have nothing to do with it.”
That perception is a misunderstanding.
If he hopes to win, he might need to start voicing his thoughts.
