Since his blockbuster move to Los Angeles, Luka Dončić has quickly embraced the Lakers, signing a long-term extension and fully committing to their championship aspirations. While he remains a perennial MVP candidate, Dončić’s focus is on leading the team to victories, with the Lakers currently positioned as one of the strongest contenders in the Western Conference.
Luka Dončić Talks MVP Award While Focused on Lakers Team Goals
The Slovenian superstar is once again in contention to win his first MVP this season after a tremendous start statistically, but this is not his primary focus; he has revealed.
Luka on MVP:
“My first focus is obviously championship. I’m not trying to think that much of individual awards…obviously I want it but it’s gonna come with our team winning” pic.twitter.com/BWSkG5C9Iz
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) December 18, 2025
“My first focus is obviously the championship. I’m not trying to think that much of individual awards. But obviously, anyone who plays basketball wants the MVP. Obviously, I want it, but it’s gonna come with our team winning.”
Many would argue he could have won it in 2023-24, when he averaged nearly a triple-double for the season in a Mavericks uniform, with 33.9 points, 9.8 assists, and 9.2 rebounds. However, he finished a distant third behind the winner Nikola Jokić.
This year, he’s off to another MVP-caliber start, averaging a career-high in points per game so far with 34.7. Plus his usual high number of rebounds (8.7) and assists (8.8). Dončić is spot on with his focus on championships. To do so, however, he knows the Lakers must improve on defense. They currently sit 20th in the league in defensive rating, a stark disparity to their top-10 offensive rating.
They have had multiple breakdowns guarding the perimeter and in transition defense, often due to a lack of communication. To address these issues, coach JJ Redick recently met with his two stars, Dončić and LeBron James, asking them to give more.
Dončić told ESPN that the meeting was good and he acknowledged where they can improve. “That’s on us. That’s on me. We just got to give more, especially at the start of the game.”
This quote is yet another example of the leadership and accountability that Dončić provides daily, making him a beloved figure. If the Lakers can tighten up their communication on defense, they have every potential to give the OKC Thunder a run for their money in the Western Conference and potentially a championship. Perhaps, a deserved MVP will follow.
