The Dallas Mavericks are arguably a special NBA team. A member of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference, Dallas has re-established itself as an arguably great team after missing the NBA playoffs three consecutive years from 2017 to 2019. Since 2019, Dallas has been led by Luka Doncic, a versatile guard and a five-time NBA All-Star, who’s also known as Luka Magic. As a result, Dallas clinched the playoffs in 2020 and advanced to the Western Conference Finals in 2022 for the first time since their 2011 NBA Finals win.
Luka Doncic arguably can’t carry the Dallas Mavericks, and neither can his fellow NBA star Kyrie Irving. However, Doncic is a star you can’t ignore. Doncic’s continuous elevation of his impact on the Mavericks has played a big role in the their success in recent years.
Here are three reasons why Luka Doncic can’t keep a low profile anymore.
Luka Doncic Was a Reason Behind the Dallas Mavericks’ Success
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team on the rise, thanks to their new-look athleticism and chemistry. The Mavericks’ latest roster moves, like Daniel Gafford, also known as Gaff, and P.J. Washington Jr., helped them finish in sixth place in the Western Conference as the 2023-24 NBA regular season came to a wrap.
But no Mavericks article would be complete without a Luka Doncic mention. Dallas benefited from signing Doncic in 2018. He proceeded to become a Mavericks star, while improving the Mavericks’ locker room. His NBA MVP-style play has been a big reason behind the Mavericks’ success in recent years, including this past year. He became the first player to record at least 10,000 points, 3,000 rebounds, and 3,000 assists before turning 25 since LeBron James. He might’ve struggled in his early career, but he has stepped up since then.
Mavericks Star Deserved the 2024 NBA MVP
In case you missed it, Nikola Jokic won the 2024 NBA MVP award. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander trailed in second place, while Luka Doncic finished in third place. Jokic won his third NBA MVP award in the last four seasons. Obviously, Jokic deserved to win the award as he’s a 2023 NBA champion for a reason.
However, Luka Doncic deserved to win the award. Doncic may not be a member of a soon-to-be NBA championship team anytime soon, but he had a career year in 2024. He was named the Western Conference Player of the Month award for his play for the month of February 2024 for his fourth of his career so far. He also became the first NBA player to record six consecutive 30-point triple-doubles in NBA history after recording 39 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in the Dallas Mavericks’ 142–124 blowout win over the Detroit Pistons on March 9, 2024.
The truth is the stats can work against Luka Doncic. The stats don’t lie, but Doncic’s work ethic can work in his favor, as it seems like he tries so hard to be the best in the NBA each year, but his ability to protect the ball might’ve held him back. Still, this year shows that he might not win the NBA MVP award until after his team wins an NBA championship.
Dallas Mavericks Star’s NBA MVP Win in the Cards
Although the chances of Luka Doncic winning the NBA MVP award appear to be slim, there’s still a chance for the Slovenian basketball star to win the award in the future. Hopefully, in the near future, as it seems like Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks are in a race against time at the moment.
Luka Doncic’s fellow teammate, Kyrie Irving, is a polarizing player to say the least. Irving, however, has done a lot of good things for the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, including predicting that Doncic will win the NBA MVP award “very soon” and apparently encouraging the public to look at Doncic’s numbers across the board and how he was carrying the team. Irving made a good point to look at all of the contributing factors before making a decision about the MVP of the league.
That being said, Luka Doncic is arguably a bonafide NBA MVP candidate. His success on and off the basketball court is no longer low-key. His success should help him become a new foreign-born player who wins the NBA MVP award.
About the Author
Ana is an accomplished journalist with various credentials in writing, reporting, and broadcasting. With a diverse background and a bachelor’s degree in communications from San Jose State University, Ana can deliver the news in a timely manner and share her opinions with confidence. Her other articles can be found here.
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