Luka Doncic will serve as the leader until LeBron James returns from a sciatic nerve injury.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
General managers interviewed by NBA.com gave Luka Doncic the second most voted player will be named Most Valuable Player. The dynamic guard finished third in MVP voting in 2024 as he helped the Dallas Mavericks reach the NBA Finals and led the league in scoring.
Doncic has proven he can return to his previous form, stunning on the EuroBasket international stage and shining in limited preseason play. But most importantly, he's settled in Los Angeles after a seismic trade last season. The comfort brought Doncic back to his true personality on the court, as he swapped jerseys with teammates in practice, made a sarcastic joke about when he “had to carry” Redick when they were teammates in Dallas, and treated his teammates to rides in a Porsche.
Doncic can always produce MVP-level numbers, but by taking on a larger leadership role, he hopes to win bigger prizes.
“He's motivated by winning,” Redick said. “I know that because I talk to him about it all the time. He's motivated by winning, and if we win at a high level, he'll be in that MVP conversation.”
Doncic remains well behind MVP favorite Nikola Jokic, who received 67% of the general manager's votes compared to runner-up Doncic's 10%. The Lakers haven't had an MVP since Kobe Bryant in 2008.
