Luka Doncic is gearing up for his first full season with the Los Angeles Lakers, and a few assume it might finish with the NBA’s highest particular person honor.
Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins didn’t maintain again on his MVP decide for 2025-26, talking on NBA At the moment.
“I mentioned it the opposite day, I’m saying it now,” Perkins mentioned. “He’s engaged, he felt disrespected, the Mavs gave up on him, they traded him. There was lots of offseason noise, criticism, lots of it got here from me, about how he couldn’t defend. Now abruptly we get an engaged, disrespected Luka who’s holding himself accountable.”
Doncic, has completed prime 5 in MVP voting in 5 of the previous six seasons.
Final 12 months, he averaged 28.2 factors, 8.2 rebounds and seven.7 assists however solely performed 50 video games, falling in need of the edge wanted to qualify for MVP consideration.
Perkins has him ranked forward of names like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in his early poll.
“The Lakers have a reasonably weak supporting forged round he and LeBron,” Tim Bontemps added. “If the Lakers are within the 50-plus win vary, and Luka is taking part in like he did two years in the past, earlier than he had the accidents and all the pieces final 12 months, Luka’s going to have a shot (on the MVP award).”
David Dennis additionally weighed in on NBA At the moment, saying, “Luka must be on this listing for the Lakers to be remotely aggressive. I’m with (Perkins) that we want an MVP-caliber Luka. I’m undecided he’s going to be MVP-caliber over SGA, however no less than SGA is on the listing, although.”
Doncic has the third-highest profession scoring common in common season historical past, and now he’s eligible to signal a four-year, $229 million extension on August 2nd.
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