Luka Doncic is preparing for his first entire season with the Los Angeles Lakers, which some think may end with the highest personal honors in the NBA.
Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins posted the 2025-26 MVP draft pick in the NBA today.
“I said the other day, what I said now,” Perkins said. “He got engaged, he felt disrespectful, the Mavericks gave him up, they traded him. Offseason noise, criticism, a lot from me, he couldn't defend him.
Doncic has finished the top five in the MVP votes in five seasons in the past six seasons.
Last year, he averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game, but played only 50 games away from the threshold required to be eligible for MVP consideration.
Perkins won the names of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in his early votes.
“The support lineup around the Lakers and around LeBron is quite weak,” Tim Bontemps added. “If the Lakers are in the 50-plus win range and Luka's game was like two years ago, before he was injured and everything last year's game, Luka would get a shot (at the MVP Award).
David Dennis also weighed the NBA today, saying: “Luka needs to be on this list to keep the Lakers' competition far away.
Doncic has the highest career average in regular season history and is now eligible to sign a four-year, $229 million extension on August 2.
Read more: Lakers are confident in Luka Doncic Extension
