Luka Dončić seems to have a real issue, and he’s made it clear.
But it feels like no one is actually paying attention.
Do you remember when he was having one of the most incredible stretches we’ve ever seen in the league? This was back in March when he was racking up averages of 37.5 points, eight rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 2.3 steals, during which he led the Lakers to an impressive 15-2 record. And yet, somehow, he dropped in the NBA.com MVP rankings at that time?
“The better I play, the more I go down in rankings,” Doncic shared back then. “So, I don’t know what more I can do.”
People seemed to ignore him. Why is that?
Maybe they’ve grown accustomed to his excellence. Or perhaps his frequent complaints to referees have turned his frustrations into background noise, even though it was his only moment of vulnerability last season. It also raises the question—does he need to be more vocal about his own achievements?
Now, Doncic’s concerns hit home once again.
Despite leading the league in scoring last season with an average of 33.5 points and finishing third in assists with 8.3, none of the general managers in the NBA think he’ll win MVP this season.
In a preseason poll released on October 15, Victor Wembanyama garnered 77% of the vote for predicted MVP, followed by Nikola Jokic at 10% and Anthony Edwards at 7%. Other players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jayson Tatum also received some votes.
But Doncic? Nothing. Zero.
What were those general managers really thinking? Why is he flying under the radar? What’s going on here?
These questions loom large in light of Doncic’s astounding performance where he scored 52 points on 56.7% shooting, along with eight rebounds and 10 assists, helping the Lakers come back from an 18-point deficit to defeat the Jazz, 132-123.
It was nothing short of spectacular.
Since Doncic was traded to the Lakers from the Mavericks in February 2025, he has surpassed LeBron James in 40-point games, achieving 19 compared to James’s 18 in his eight seasons with the Lakers.
This was Doncic’s 10th 50-point game of his career, making it clear that only James Harden (16) and Damian Lillard (11) have had more 50-point games since Doncic was drafted as the third pick in 2018. And by the way, he is the first player this season to hit that 50-point milestone.
Doncic is undeniably a generational talent, so why isn’t he receiving more attention for the league’s highest individual honor?
It’s worth noting that despite leading the league in scoring twice and taking the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024, Doncic has yet to secure an MVP award.
Warriors star Draymond Green offers an interesting perspective.
“I still firmly believe that he’ll never win an MVP because he’s in year nine, and the people who vote have already moved on,” Green stated during a podcast episode. “Voters get fatigued with seeing you excel consistently, and if you haven’t reached that MVP greatness, they just overlook you. And they’ve done that.”
What a shame for Doncic.
Now that the Lakers are officially his team after LeBron James departed for the 76ers, Doncic is embracing that responsibility. He played a pivotal role in offseason roster decisions, including the acquisition of Walker Kessler. For the first time, he even hosted a mini camp in Slovenia this August to help strengthen team chemistry.
In an exclusive interview with the California Post, Doncic opened up about what winning MVP would truly mean for him.
“It would definitely mean a lot,” he admitted. “Obviously, winning a championship is the ultimate goal; that’s what you train for every day. But getting an MVP would also be exceptional—not everyone can say they’ve won one, so it would certainly be nice. But, you know, it starts with the team. If we don’t play well, I won’t win either of those honors. I’m excited to go to war with this group. I think we had a solid training camp, and we’re ready.”
This was a big moment for Doncic, known for being reserved.
He really wants this. He isn’t going to advocate for himself as aggressively as Victor Wembanyama did last season. Although he stands out as one of the best offensive players in the league, he’s the kind of team-first player who isn’t going to brag about his own skills.
But somehow, that shouldn’t be necessary. Voters should recognize talent without needing convincing. General managers are compensated to understand players better than anyone else.
So, what gives for Doncic, who placed fourth in MVP voting last season despite leading in scoring and guiding the Lakers to fourth in the West before a hamstring injury sidelined him for the playoffs?
As Doncic wondered last season: What else does he have to show?
Let’s review the criticisms against him.
He argues too often with referees. So what? When did that become an important metric—or any metric at all?
He lacks defensive prowess. Yet that hasn’t stopped Steph Curry, Nikola Jokic, or James Harden from collecting MVPs.
Some claim he can’t win unless his team is the top seed in the West. Well, Russell Westbrook grabbed an MVP in 2017 with the Thunder sitting sixth, and Jokic achieved the same in 2021 with the Nuggets finishing third.
Enough of the excuses.
Doncic has a valid point. Green, too.
The general managers seem to be missing the mark.
Let’s not penalize Doncic just because we’re used to his eye-popping statistics that they no longer amaze us. Let’s avoid the lazy tendency of only celebrating established stars who have already won the award or focusing solely on new talent.
Doncic has more than earned his place among the MVP frontrunners for quite some time.
Given the pressures he faces as the leader of a prestigious franchise, this might be his standout season.
We all need to pay attention.
Greatness fatigue can’t be just a nice excuse for overlooking talent.
