Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic is set to serve his suspension following a costly technical foul in the team’s previous game, but that shouldn’t hurt his chances at winning NBA Most Valuable Player.
In fact, his head coach, JJ Redick, believes that Luka is fully deserving of the award based on specific criteria. On Monday, Redick spoke out in favor of his superstar, indicating that Luka’s current fitness is “probably as good as it’s been since he was a first- or second-year player.”
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Lakers coach also noted that he believes Luka is an MVP due to having the best first, third, and last third of the NBA season of any player. The 27-year-old is averaging 33.7 points per game, along with 8.2 assists per game, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game.
Despite injuries hitting various members of the Lakers, the team has also been rolling along in a competitive Western Conference, remaining third behind the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.
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In his team’s first 27 games, Luka averaged 33.5 points a game, along with 8.7 assists and 7.9 rebounds. In the last 27 games, he’s averaged 34 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.7 assists a game, per StatMuse.
Earlier this month, he dropped 60 points in a win over the Miami Heat, which arrived a week after he hit the Chicago Bulls with a 51-point game. He’s also recorded multiple 40-point games, including the last two Lakers outings.
Despite Redick’s argument for Luka to win the MVP Award, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama have stronger cases and odds to win it, due to their contributions for two teams that are above Los Angeles in the standings.
Doncic was set to sit out for Monday night’s matchup against the Washington Wizards for his one-game suspension, due to earning his 16th technical foul in the previous game.
Without Luka in the lineup, the Lakers were still 16-point favorites against the visitors, who are among the basement dwellers of the Eastern Conference.
There’s also been ongoing debates about the Lakers’ chances of winning the championship, even with Luka playing so well, and LeBRon also in the lineup, due to defensive deficiencies. However, having players of those caliber on the court, both of whom have either been to the NBA Finals or won it, certainly shouldn’t hurt.
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For more about the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Newsweek Sports.
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