Luka Doncic is arguably the best player in the NBA right now. He is having the best season of his career averaging 35 points (career high), 8 rebounds, and 9 assists (career high) while shooting 49 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3 (career high).
Doncic just came off 2 historic months. In December he averaged 37 points, 9 rebounds, and 10 assists becoming the second player to average at least 35-8-10 (Oscar Robertson in 1960 was first). Then in January, he did it again averaging 37-9-10. Luka scored 73 points against the Hawks which marks the fourth-highest-scoring game in NBA history with only Wilt Chamberlain’s 78, Kobe’s 81, and Wilt’s 100 being higher.
Despite all this Luka is sixth in the MVP voting. He did not win Player of the Month in both months because of his win/loss record. Devin Booker and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the awards instead even though Doncic had better stats.
The last time I checked I remembered the award being called “Player of the Month” not “Team of the Month.” The NBA media doesn’t factor in the injuries the Mavericks have faced compared to other teams like the Thunder.
OKC has had a total of 8 games missed between key players, compared to the Mavs where over 70 games were missed from key players. Kyrie Irving alone missed 22 games this season yet Luka has managed to keep the Mavs contending for a playoff spot by himself. Dallas is currently the 8 seed and only two games back from the 6 seed.
Kyrie just came back and Derek Lively is expected to come back soon so hopefully the Mavs will start to win more games so Luka Doncic can go up in the MVP ladder since that’s the only way to move up because now it is a team award according to the media!
