Luka Doncic finished the 2023-24 regular season averaging 33.9 PPG, 9.2 RPG and 9.8 APG. His brilliance helped the Dallas Mavericks get to a 50-32 record and finish as the fifth seed in a stacked Western Conference. The Slovenian has been putting up stellar numbers since he arrived in the NBA, but this season he has shown the world a different side of his game.
The Mavericks traded for Kyrie Irving on the trade deadline last season. His arrival raised a lot of question marks, especially after the franchise lost their way towards the end of the season and missed the postseason. However, the Kyrie-Doncic backcourt has been one of the biggest strengths for the Mavs this season.
Luka Doncic has had some monster games, including the 73-point showing against the Atlanta Hawks. The Slovenian is a gifted scorer, but that doesn’t take away the fact that he is one of the best passers in the league. His pick-and-roll with Derrick Lively was almost unguardable for a while. Looking at his ability to play alongside bigs, the Mavs front office brought in Daniel Gafford from the Washington Wizards. Gafford who has not seen a lot of limelight in his career, instantly become one of the most lethal centres in the league.
He was on the verge of breaking Wilt Chamberlin’s record of making 35 consecutive field goals. Gafford fell two short of the record, but his incredible run would not be possible if it wasn’t for Luka Doncic. The Slovenian has been labelled as a ball hog and as a player who does not trust his teammate. However, this season Doncic has flipped the script and he certainly deserves flowers for that.
Luka Doncic could win his first major award in the NBA
Since coming into the NBA, Luka Doncic has showcased brilliance in every season. He has made it to the Playoffs three times and he even once led the Mavericks to the Conference Finals. Despite all of his crazy stats, the 25-year-old is yet to win a major NBA award. He was the Rookie of the Year in 2019, but his game certainly deserves to be recognised with more than that.
The Mavericks have been splendid since the All-Star break. Their brilliant run to end the season helped them finish fifth in the West with a 50-32 record. However, this may not be enough to help Luka Doncic win the MVP trophy. The likes of Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have better records than him and this is something that could affect his chances.
The Mavs are 4-8 without his presence and this showcases how important he is in the lineup. He was a few assists and rebounds short of averaging and triple-double, all while improving his teammates. Whether he wins the award or not, Doncic will be key to the Mavs’ chances in the postseason. They have a solid roster and if they play well, the Slovenian could win a reward a few notches higher than the MVP trophy.
