Luka Doncic Finally Admits He Wants the MVP, As If We Didn’t Know
Thinking about which NBA star is going to snag the MVP trophy is practically a full-time hobby for basketball fans. And while most players try to play it cool, acting like they’re “just here for the team,” Luka Doncic is finally dropping the act. The Slovenian superstar recently got real about his ambitions for the 2025-26 season, and honestly? It’s about time.
Let’s be real for a second: anybody who plays basketball at this level wants the hardware. But hearing Doncic actually say, “I want it,” feels like a breath of fresh air in a league full of practiced PR responses.
Doncic Gets Honest About His MVP Hunger
In a recent chat that felt less like a press conference and more like a moment of clarity, Doncic didn’t shy away from the topic. When asked about the possibility of taking home the league’s top individual honor, he gave the standard “I just play my game” line initially, but quickly pivoted to the truth. “Obviously, I want it. Anybody in the world that plays basketball wants it, so we’ll see what happens,” he admitted.
Thank you, Luka. Finally, someone said it.
It’s not just talk, though. Doncic is currently tearing through the league like a man possessed. He is averaging a league-high 35.0 points per game across 17 contests. Throw in 9.2 rebounds and 9.1 assists, and you’re looking at numbers that look like they were generated in a video game on rookie difficulty. He’s doing this while dragging the Los Angeles Lakers (yes, you read that right—he’s in LA now according to the stats provided) to a 17-6 record, good enough for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.
Competition Is Stiff, Even for Luka
Of course, the NBA isn’t just going to hand the trophy to Doncic because he asked nicely. The competition is absolutely brutal this year. You’ve got Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over in OKC putting up a casual 32.8 points and 6.4 assists. Then there’s the perennial headache for MVP voters, Nikola Jokic, who is essentially averaging a triple-double with 29.2 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 11.0 assists.
Comparing the stats, Doncic is leading the scoring race, but Jokic has the edge in rebounding and passing efficiency. It’s the classic battle of volume scoring versus overall efficiency, and the narrative is going to swing back and forth all season. But if the Lakers keep winning and Doncic keeps dropping 40-point bombs, it’s going to be hard to deny him.
A Look at the Monster 2025-26 Campaign
If you need proof that Doncic isn’t just stat-padding on a bad team, look at his game log. It’s actually ridiculous.
In late November, he decimated the Clippers with 43 points, 9 rebounds, and 13 assists. A few days later against the Bucks? 41 points. Even in the season opener against the Warriors—a loss—he still managed to drop 43 points with 12 boards. The man is a walking highlight reel.
What’s most impressive is the consistency. He’s playing nearly 37 minutes a night and carrying the entire offensive load. The usage rate must be through the roof, but he rarely looks tired. He’s shooting nearly 59% from the field, which, for a guard taking the difficulty of shots he takes, is borderline illegal.
Can the Lakers Support a Doncic MVP Run?
Here is the kicker: MVP awards are rarely won in a vacuum. You need team success. Currently, sitting at 17-6 is a great start. But the Western Conference is a bloodbath. If the Lakers slide down to the 4th or 5th seed, those empty stats might not look as shiny to the voters.
However, if they maintain a top-3 seed, and Doncic continues to flirt with a 35-point triple-double average, the narrative writes itself. He’s got the stats, he’s got the big-market attention in Los Angeles, and now, he’s got the declared motivation.
The “I want it” quote might seem small, but in sports psychology, admitting your goal is the first step to destroying everyone in your path to get it. Luka isn’t hiding behind false modesty anymore. He’s coming for the trophy, and frankly, the rest of the league should be terrified.
