After a poor start to their season, Dallas Mavericks have finally picked up the pace and are now looking good. The Mavericks recently increased their winning streak with their win over the Atlanta Hawks. But their rough start may come back to haunt them later in the season. While it may or may not hurt the Mavs but it will for sure affect their star player Luka Doncic in the MVP consideration this season.
While a lot of players think that Doncic may not be at the level of the MVP discussion this season, his numbers suggest a different story. After their win against the Atlanta Hawks, he surpassed the legendary Magic Johnson in a triple-double record.
However, the Slovenian basketball player agrees with the former statement of not being at the MVP level. Doncic feels that he has not been playing at his best this season and therefore does not deserve to be in the MVP talks.
In an interview with Stephen A. Smith, he was first asked whether the burden of expectations have hindered his game this season. To which he said, “I had pressure since I was a kid playing in Madrid and that stuff.”
The 21-year then continued with the shocking comment which is currently a very unpopular opinion among the fans and critics of the NBA. “Honestly, I don’t believe I should be in the MVP conversation this year,” he stated.
Smith, who was shocked by the comments of the young talented player, asked him why he thinks like that. “Like where we are, like 13th or 14 seed. So, that’s why. We just got to play the right way now, get into the playoffs. That’s our key this year. Get in the playoffs and show what we can do in the postseason.”
Smith came up with another follow-up question, quizzing the Mavs superstar what according to him was the criteria to be in the MVP conversation. To which Doncic said, “I don’t really know, but I think like the top two teams in the West. That will be my opinion.”
So far, the top five in the MVP race are LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard. With how things are turning out, it will be difficult for Luka Doncic to break into this list of elite players.
