Luka Dončić is set to win the MVP award this season for a reason that hasn’t been widely noticed.
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić has already racked up numerous accolades, but a few key achievements, like an MVP award and an NBA championship, still elude him.
Last season, he came close to both, finishing third in the MVP race behind Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, while also leading the Mavericks to the Finals.
It’s uncertain which accolade he’ll secure first, though an MVP award remains a possibility for the Slovenian star, continuing the trend of non-American players winning the prize.
Gilbert Arenas, a three-time All-Star, believes Klay Thompson’s arrival will significantly boost Dončić’s MVP chances.
On his podcast, “Gil’s Arena,” Arenas suggested that Dončić will likely increase his assists this season, thanks to Thompson’s exceptional shooting. Arenas also predicts Dončić will average a triple-double for the season, a feat last achieved by Russell Westbrook in the 2020-21 season, which would make him a top MVP contender.
Even before playing a game together, the potential chemistry between Dončić and Thompson seems promising. With Thompson creating opportunities off the ball and finding his spots, Dončić will have more space to either score or pass to an open teammate. Given that Dončić averaged 9.8 assists per game last season, reaching double digits this year seems quite achievable.
Reaching an average of 10.0 rebounds per game could be more challenging, though Dončić was close last season with 9.2 rebounds per game, nearly averaging a triple-double and possibly being overlooked for the MVP award.
It’s plausible that Dončić could surpass this mark this year, and Thompson might assist in this by handling tough perimeter defensive tasks, potentially allowing Dončić to focus more on rebounding.
While some might accuse Dončić of stat-padding, Dallas benefits from him being the first to touch the ball after gaining possession, which helps to quickly initiate their offense and prevent the opposing team from setting up its defense.
Dončić’s near-triple-double average last season went somewhat unnoticed, but achieving it this year could boost his MVP candidacy. Although it may not guarantee him the award, it would certainly keep him in the running.
Mavericks fans are eagerly anticipating seeing Dončić bring home the MVP trophy. If he can also secure an NBA championship, it would make the accomplishment even more rewarding.
