Oct 14, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) with head coach JJ Redick against the Phoenix Suns during an NBA preseason game at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Oct 14, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) with head coach JJ Redick against the Phoenix Suns during an NBA preseason game at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Sunday’s voting results revealed Luka Doncic occupying the 4th position in the MVP race. WNBA icon, Candace Parker, traced a very Kobe Bryant-like parallel about this.
Despite an illustrious season, Doncic couldn’t compete against the defending MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic (2nd), and Victor Wembanyama (3rd). The reason has to do with what Parker said in February on the Cousins with Vince Carter & Tracy McGrady podcast.
“I’m simply saying, don’t Kobe Luka. Like, don’t get bored with greatness. Luka Doncic is a beast, and I feel like, to some extent, we overlooked greatness, because you see it for an extended period of time.”
Averaging 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists this season, the only barrier in Doncic’s MVP race was his grade 2 hamstring strain. Falling behind 15 games, the LA Lakers’ star finished the season with only 64.
Thus, the greatness was overlooked, similar to Bryant winning just 1 MVP despite being one of the greatest players of the sport. The voters did exactly what Parker said they shouldn’t: get bored with Luka Doncic.
While Parker’s comments dated back to February, the Lakers’ coach expressed his honest feelings about Doncic’s MVP standing very recently.
JJ Redick Was “Disappointed” About Luka Doncic’s MVP Position
Despite averaging more than Shai, Jokic, and Wemby, not only did Doncic miss the award, but he also did not make it to the finalist list.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick expressed his frustration regarding the results before Game 2 against the Houston Rockets.
“I’m disappointed. I think he deserved to be there. And I think all three guys who did end up being finalists have a strong case. A lot of this, unfortunately, is media momentum…”
“I guess we underperformed for a couple of months despite him playing and getting Player of the Month, and the media momentum never got built,” he added further.
Doncic was the only Western Conference player to win Player of the Month twice this season, but he’s yet to make his mark on the MVP scene.
Do you think Luka Doncic will be able to win one next season? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Deblina Roy