No NBA GM voted for Luka Doncic for projected MVP? Youve got to be joking

Luka Dončić has a problem.He told us about it. But we didn’t listen. Remember when he was in the midst of one of the most remarkable stretches we witnessed from any player last season? You know, when he averaged 37.5 points, eight rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.3 steals in March, leading the Lakers to a 15-2 record, yet he somehow fell in NBA.com’s MVP rankings at that time?“The better I play, the more I go down in rankings,” Doncic said last March.

“So, I don’t know what more I can do.”Everyone turned their cheek. Why?Maybe people are inured to his greatness.Maybe all of his complaining to officials reduced that comment to white noise, even though it was his first and only time opening up about feeling snubbed last season.

Maybe he doesn’t advocate for himself enough. Doncic’s point was stunningly driven home again.Despite leading the league in scoring last season (33.5 points) and finishing third in assists (8.3), none of the NBA’s general managers believe Dončić will win MVP this season. In their preseason poll released October 15, Victor Wembanyama received 77% of the vote for projected MVP, followed by Nikola Jokic (10%) and Anthony Edwards (7%).Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jayson Tatum also received votes. Doncic? Zero.

Nil.Nada. What were the league’s general managers thinking? Why is he being overlooked? What’s going on here?Those questions have been thrust to the forefront of our minds after Doncic finished with 52 points on 56.7% shooting, eight rebounds and 10 assists on Sunday, helping the Lakers storm back from an 18-point deficit to beat the Jazz, 132-123.  It was a masterpiece. Since the Mavericks traded Doncic to the Lakers in February 2025, he has had more 40-point performances (19) than LeBron James (18), who spent eight seasons in Los Angeles. It was Doncic’s 10th 50-point performance of his career.

Since he was drafted by the Mavericks as the third overall pick in 2018, only James Harden (16) and Damian...