{"id":244982,"date":"2026-03-31T12:29:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T12:29:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/244982\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T12:29:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T12:29:09","slug":"how-luka-doncic-stacks-up-against-nbas-other-mvp-contenders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/244982\/","title":{"rendered":"How Luka Doncic stacks up against NBA’s other MVP contenders"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome back to this week\u2019s Lakers newsletter<\/a>, where the vibes are immaculate.<\/p>\n

The Lakers<\/a> have won 15 of their last 17 games. LeBron James<\/a> continues to set NBA records, most recently tying the all-time mark for wins in the regular season and playoffs with Monday\u2019s win over Washington<\/a>. Jaxson Hayes<\/a> hasn\u2019t missed a three-point shot all year. The fans who chanted \u201cWe want Bronny!\u201d have gotten their wish.<\/p>\n

With seven games remaining in the regular season, we turn our focus to a different cheer.<\/p>\n

MVP! MVP! \"Lakers <\/p>\n

Lakers star Luka Doncic runs onto the court before a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 10 at Crypto.com Arena.<\/p>\n

(Allen J. Schaben \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

The familiar chant rang out in arenas from L.A. to Miami<\/a> to Indianapolis. Luka Doncic\u2019s campaign was powerful enough to sway even opposing crowds that showered him with shouts of \u201cMVP.\u201d<\/p>\n

With Doncic on a historic season-ending heater, the most valuable player discussion<\/a> suddenly got piping hot with two weeks left in the season. The NBA\u2019s leading scorer surged back into the race with gaudy numbers over the month of March: 37.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game; 12 straight 30-point games; a 24-hour stretch with 100 points; and the first 60-point performance by a Laker since Kobe Bryant in his final game<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The most important number from March: 14 wins. Approaching the playoffs, the Lakers (49-26) are one of the hottest teams in the league, powered by Doncic\u2019s brilliance.<\/p>\n

All things Lakers, all the time. <\/p>\n

Get all the Lakers news you need in Thuc Nhi Nguyen’s weekly newsletter.<\/p>\n

By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service<\/a>, which include arbitration and a class action waiver. You agree that we and our third-party vendors may collect and use your information, including through cookies, pixels and similar technologies, for the purposes set forth in our Privacy Policy<\/a> such as personalizing your experience and ads. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf we continue to finish the season the way we\u2019re playing right now, and he continues to play that way, to me, he is the MVP,\u201d Lakers coach JJ Redick<\/a> said.<\/p>\n

Doncic leads the league in scoring (33.7) and is just a hair off from the career-high 33.9 points per game he averaged when he finished third in MVP voting in 2024. Compared to the other top three MVP candidates \u2014 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a>, Nikola Jokic<\/a> and Victor Wembanyama<\/a> \u2014 Doncic\u2019s traditional stats paint a competitive picture. He has the second-most assists of the quartet behind Jokic and the third-most rebounds.<\/p>\n

Among guards who have played more than 11 games, Doncic ranks third in rebounds per game at 7.8, and his 7.2 defensive rebounds per game is the most of anyone at his position. Doncic\u2019s defense gets picked apart, but he also has a career-best 102 steals. He\u2019s the only player averaging 30 or more points this season with 100 or more steals.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s the engine that\u2019s driving all of our winning,\u201d Redick said.<\/p>\n

Advanced statistics have Doncic a tier below his rivals. Doncic\u2019s net rating of plus-4 is a distant fourth among the top contenders and pales in comparison to Wembanyama\u2019s plus-17.3.<\/p>\n

Breaking down the MVP race \"A <\/p>\n

Jokic appeared to be on his way to winning his fourth MVP before the Nuggets star missed a month with a knee injury. By leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to the best record in the league, Gilgeous-Alexander appeared to be in pole position to win his second consecutive MVP.<\/p>\n

Doncic and Wembanyama are making a late charge. The Spurs see the Lakers\u2019 14-2 record in March and raise them a 25-2 mark since Feb. 1. They won their 10 consecutive game Monday. While Doncic was serving a suspension for technical foul accumulation, Wembanyama scored 41 points with 16 rebounds, four assists and three blocks against the Chicago Bulls.<\/p>\n

The MVP chants in Frost Bank Arena are just as loud as anywhere in the league.<\/p>\n

All fore one \"Lakers <\/p>\n

Lakers guard Austin Reaves shoots a free throw during a win over the Washington Wizards on Monday at Crypto.com Arena.<\/p>\n

(Robert Gauthier \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

Of all the NBA markets, L.A. presents unique challenges to team building. When Redick played for the Clippers, teammates scattered immediately after practice with hopes of beating traffic on the way home. Redick knew he wasn\u2019t going to drive hours from his home in Manhattan Beach to visit Chris Paul in Calabasas.<\/p>\n

But for the Lakers, a round of golf is worth a drive on the 405.<\/p>\n

\u201cFinding tee times, being with each other for four hours where you can shoot the proverbial S-H-I-whatever and not have to be in a high pressure moment or on a team bus and kind of be away from the facility,\u201d Redick said, \u201cI think it\u2019s great.\u201d<\/p>\n

Golf is the Lakers\u2019 latest bonding activity that\u2019s helped keep the vibes high through the most successful stretch of the season. The Lakers have been intentional with team-building activities in Redick\u2019s second year at the helm. All players and coaches made autobiographical powerpoint presentations to the team during the preseason. Jake LaRavia and assistant coach Beau Levesque won the team-wide pickleball tournament in November. Players and coaches arrange golf outings between games on long road trips. One day after hitting the winning shot in Orlando, newest teammate Luke Kennard got in on the golf action in a scramble match with players facing coaches.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey had AR<\/a>,\u201d Redick said sheepishly, \u201cso we can all guess the result of that one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Austin Reaves<\/a> is the leader in the clubhouse. He remembered when teammates gave him grief about his love of golf, which he picked up at 17 and almost immediately excelled at. Seeing his teammates embrace the game \u201cactually means a lot to me,\u201d Reaves said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad that they are addicted,\u201d he added with a satisfied smile.<\/p>\n

After the COVID-19 bubble, Redick noticed an uptick in golf\u2019s popularity around the league. Even the Lakers have a handful of players who suddenly decided to start during the last year. Doncic is the most recent convert. He bragged that he beat Reaves on one hole when they played in Indianapolis. Reaves, who got a double bogey compared to Doncic\u2019s bogey, said he let his teammate win.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a confidence thing,\u201d Reaves said. \u201cWe needed him to be at his best at 7 o\u2019clock tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Doncic scored 43 points against Indianapolis the day after the golf outing.<\/p>\n

On tap \"Cleveland's <\/p>\n

Cleveland\u2019s Jarrett Allen shoots between Detroit\u2019s Cade Cunningham, left, and forward Tobias Harris on March 3.<\/p>\n

(Sue Ogrocki \/ Associated Press)<\/p>\n

Tuesday vs. Cleveland (47-28), 7:30 p.m. PDT<\/p>\n

Center Jarrett Allen returned last week from a 10-game absence, but missed Cleveland\u2019s game on Monday in Utah as he managed right knee tendinitis. Missing the first game of a back-to-back indicates that he\u2019ll likely be available against the Lakers.<\/p>\n

Thursday at Oklahoma City (60-16), 6:30 p.m. PDT <\/p>\n

The Thunder have won 15 of their last 16 games with the only loss coming against Boston. This game and next week\u2019s rematch at Crypto.com Arena could be critical in the MVP race between Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic.<\/p>\n

Sunday at Dallas (24-51), 4:30 p.m. PDT<\/p>\n

Since the trade heard \u2018round the league, Doncic has averaged 33 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists in four games against his former team. It\u2019s his highest scoring average against any Western Conference opponent.<\/p>\n

Status report<\/p>\n

Marcus Smart (right ankle contusion) <\/p>\n

Smart remains day-to-day with an ankle injury he sustained against Orlando. He has missed four games.<\/p>\n

Adou Thiero (left knee soreness) <\/p>\n

The rookie forward landed back on the injury report after playing two minutes in the Lakers\u2019 loss to Detroit. Redick said Thiero was held out for precautionary reasons after his knee didn\u2019t react well to playing in a G League game then playing in Detroit two days later. Thiero previously missed six weeks with a right medial collateral ligament sprain and underwent surgery on his left knee in college, which kept him sidelined at the beginning of the season.<\/p>\n

Favorite thing I ate this week \"The <\/p>\n

(Thuc Nhi Nguyen \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

I have had Ramen Nagi on my list for literal years because former USC center Brett Neilon \u2014 who grew up in Tokyo \u2014 recommended it. I have changed beats three times since then but never forgot what he said was his favorite ramen place in L.A. The red king, which is a spicy version of their pork broth ramen, was worth the years of anticipation. Every bowl is customizable so I loved getting to add thick ramen noodles.<\/p>\n

In case you missed it<\/p>\n

No Luka Doncic, no problem for LeBron James and Lakers in blowout win<\/a><\/p>\n

Lakers hope two-day \u2018reset\u2019 will refresh them for final stretch of the season<\/a><\/p>\n

Luka Doncic will serve one-game suspension for techs on Monday<\/a><\/p>\n

Swanson: Bronny James has proven he deserves to be a Laker \u2014 with or without LeBron<\/a><\/p>\n

Lakers beat Nets, but Luka Doncic is facing suspension again after 16th technical<\/a><\/p>\n

Luka Doncic scores 43 as road weary Lakers hold off late Pacers rally<\/a><\/p>\n

Lakers fade in final seconds against Pistons as nine-game win streak ends<\/a><\/p>\n

Until next time…<\/p>\n

As always, pass along your thoughts to me at thucnhi.nguyen@latimes.com<\/a>, and please consider subscribing<\/a> if you like our work!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Welcome back to this week\u2019s Lakers newsletter, where the vibes are immaculate. The Lakers have won 15 of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":244983,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[26334,26340,26338,26339,48,52,51,1415,47,50,49,63,26341,1086,9442,6466,26335,427,315,26337,26336,430],"class_list":["post-244982","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-los-angeles","tag-big-trade-move","tag-guys","tag-howard","tag-jerami-grant","tag-la","tag-la-headlines","tag-la-news","tag-lakers","tag-los-angeles","tag-los-angeles-headlines","tag-los-angeles-news","tag-los-angeles-times","tag-next-month","tag-pandemic","tag-player","tag-players","tag-talen-horton","tag-team","tag-time","tag-trade-season","tag-tucker","tag-week"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244982","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=244982"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244982\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/244983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=244982"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=244982"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=244982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}