The Los Angeles Lakers have been on a tear in current weeks, surging up the Western Conference standings at a essential level within the season. Los Angeles has gained 10 of its final 11 video games and now sits because the No. 3 seed within the NBA with simply 9 video games remaining within the common season. The late push has put the Lakers firmly in rivalry, turning what as soon as seemed like an inconsistent marketing campaign into one of many hottest runs within the league heading into the postseason.
At the middle of that surge has been Luka Doncic, who has delivered one of the crucial dominant stretches of basketball this season. During this run, Doncic has averaged 39.5 factors, 8.1 rebounds and seven.3 assists, together with a 60-point efficiency in opposition to the Miami Heat. He additionally made historical past in the course of the Lakers’ current street stretch, turning into the primary participant since Michael Jordan in 1986 to common 40 factors over a six-game span solely on the street.
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77)Mark J&interval; Rebilas-Imagn Images
(Mark J&interval; Rebilas-Imagn Images)
Despite that kind, the league’s main scorer this season finds himself in a tightly contested MVP race alongside Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama, Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic, and Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown. Each candidate has constructed a robust case by means of workforce success and particular person manufacturing, making the race one of many closest lately.
On Friday, the NBA launched its newest MVP ladder, and it sparked robust backlash from Lakers followers. Wembanyama climbed to the highest spot, whereas Doncic, who had surged to second only a week earlier, dropped to fourth regardless of his historic stretch.
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“39/8/8 in his last 10 games with a 9-1 record but he somehow drops from 2nd to 4th,” a fan mentioned.
“Yup Luka will never win an MVP in his lifetime this is a JOKE,” one other fan added.
“why is jokic above luka ??” one other fan questioned.
“Luka at 4 doesn’t make sense to me. Someone explain to me why Wemby rated over Luka,” wrote a fourth fan.
“NAH MAN THIS [is] RIGGED, LUKA 4???” one fan posted.
“Luka will have to average 50/20/20 to win MVP,” one other fan remarked.
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The response comes simply days after Michael Wilbon drew criticism for his take on Doncic’s MVP case, notably his protection. “Don’t talk to me about a guy who plays half the court, Luka Doncic,” Wilbon said on ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption” podcast.
The comment, broadly interpreted as a critique of Doncic’s defensive affect, rapidly fueled debate throughout the league.
The last results of the MVP voting can be introduced in the course of the playoffs, and the highest candidates have a number of extra video games to persuade the voters that they’re deserving of the award.
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Related: Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Had Words for Luka Doncic Amid Lakers Season
This story was initially printed by Athlon Sports on Mar 27, 2026, the place it first appeared within the NBA part. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.