Home Basketball Nikola Jokic revealed Luka Doncic as his choice to win this year’s NBA MVP award not just because Luka is his close friend

Nikola Jokic revealed Luka Doncic as his choice to win this year’s NBA MVP award not just because Luka is his close friend

Basketball — 06/07/2024

Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic remains a top contender for the MVP award as the regular season draws to a close. Currently, the leading candidate is Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, who has expressed his support for Doncic.

“I believe he absolutely deserves the MVP,” Jokic said about Doncic. “However, it’s not up to me to decide.”

Doncic bolstered his MVP case with a strong performance against the Nuggets, leading the Mavericks to a narrow 107-105 victory on Sunday. He achieved a double-double, scoring 37 points and grabbing ten rebounds. The win was sealed by Kyrie Irving’s buzzer-beating shot.

“I think it’s a really big win. You know, going against the Nuggets, they were champions last year,” Doncic remarked. “They have an amazing team, they have the MVP, it’s tough to play against them. So, it’s really good for us.”Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks

While NBA.com’s MVP ladder represents a single writer’s perspective, it often provides a reliable gauge of the current standings in the MVP race. Before the latest NBA games commenced, Doncic was elevated to fourth place, surpassing Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics but still trailing behind Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Doncic continues to deliver historic performances for the Mavericks, with averages of 34.4 points, 9.7 assists, and 9.0 rebounds over 37.4 minutes per game. The team boasts a 36-23 record in his 59 appearances, projecting a 50-win season. Conversely, the Mavericks have struggled with a 3-6 record in the nine games Doncic has missed, including a 3-3 record when Irving has played in those instances. Doncic also guided the Mavericks to an 11-8 record in the 19 games without Irving.The Postseason Trifecta: Luka Doncic is pulling a Nikola Jokic -- already

With a 39-29 record, Dallas ranks seventh in the West. The team’s realistic goal is to finish in the top six to avoid the play-in tournament. The Mavs’ lower positioning is holding back Doncic’s MVP candidacy compared to teams led by other candidates.

There aren’t many games remaining for Doncic to guide the Mavs to a significant rise in the Western Conference standings.