When Luka Doncic was first drafted, Tim MacMahon asked “over or under” 1.5 MVP awards, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander beat him to the punch, winning in 2025.
Even though he was drafted third overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, Luka Doncic was expected, from day one, to be the best player in the draft class.
His five First-Team All-NBA selections and 2024 scoring title certainly add to his case, although Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was picked 11th overall, became the first player in the class to win MVP and beat Doncic to a ring this season.
Doncic certainly has some ground to make up, although with an improved physique, larger media market, and all the motivation a player could ever want, he is expected to quickly remind fans that he is one of the very best players in the world.
It’s no secret that the media has a very short attention span, and that has been passed down to fans. Sure, SGA and the Oklahoma City Thunder just won a title, but that doesn’t discount Doncic’s playoff run in 2024, nor his sustained excellence for his entire career.
Last season, Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 7.7 assists, and 8.2 rebounds in 50 games between the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers. It was, without a doubt, his worst season since his rookie year, and he was battling calf injuries and being traded, so it makes sense that he would have a down year.
“Until last year, when he was banged up and got traded and wasn’t eligible, he had won Rookie of the Year and then was First-Team All-NBA the next five years in a row and is unquestionably one of the three best players on the planet,” claimed ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. “As an 18-year-old, he won EuroBasket with Slovenia and won the EuroLeague Final Four as the MVP with Real Madrid.”
Of course, a “down year” for Doncic would be the season of a lifetime for most players, although fans are numb to his success and dominance. He should come back with a vengeance next season, though.
Simply put, Doncic is entering this season angry. He heard all the questions about his health, motivation, and physique, and seems eager to prove everyone, especially Nico Harrison, wrong.
He seems to be in the best shape of his life and is fully healthy. After signing a contract extension with the Lakers, Doncic is back in Europe to play for his national team, which should ramp him up even more before the NBA season.
“We’re going to get to see Luka play here and what it looks like very, very soon,” warned Brian Windhorst.
Of course, for all of the positives that can be said about Doncic, he is facing an upwards battle. Gilgeous-Alexander has the hardware that he doesn’t, and has quickly become a media darling. The Thunder have a more well-rounded roster than the Lakers, and team success matters in MVP voting.
When Doncic was first drafted, Tim MacMahon floated “over or under 1.5” MVPs for his career, and the consensus was “over.” Bontemps and Windhorst both still agree that “over” is the safe bet, although he has ground to cover.
“I would not have guessed that somebody in Luka’s draft class would beat him to the MVP,” admitted MacMahon.
With the flashy lights of Hollywood and a compelling storyline, fans shouldn’t be shocked if they get the best version of Luka this season.
