Luka Dončić’s case for winning NBA MVP has been one of the major talking points as the regular season inches toward a close. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar is one of the names in contention alongside Nikola Jokić, Victor Wembanyama, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The offensive engine for LA further staked his claim with his 42-point blitz against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. Dončić ended his evening with five rebounds and 12 assists to help the Lakers win 127-113. This prompted his teammate, Rui Hachimura, to weigh in on the guard’s MVP chances.
Why Lakers Teammate Rui Hachimura Believes Luka Dončić Is the MVP
Speaking to reporters after the win, Hachimura said Dončić was indeed a deserving candidate for MVP when asked about the race.
“You can see he’s the MVP,” Hachimura said. “I don’t really know everything about it, but I can only see he’s the MVP of this league. What he does, what he brings to the game every game literally.. people talk about his defense, but he’s been getting good stops, steals, boxing out. Those little stuff he’s been doing on the court .. it’s been amazing.”
Hachimura’s comments follow Lakers head coach JJ Redick’s support for Dončić to win the marquee award. “If we continue to finish the season the way we’re playing right now, and he continues to play that way… to me, he is the MVP,” Redick said earlier this week.
Dončić has been on a tear this season and could rightly be labeled as a 40-point metronome. The mercurial guard has 16 40-plus games this season, and his improved efforts on offense, coupled with the Lakers’ solid win record, see him as one of the bona fide contenders to win the honors this season.
However, the latest MVP odds see the likes of Gilgeous-Alexander and Wembanyama in the running, while the Slovenian has slipped a rung. Over the last few weeks, the guard’s defensive efforts have been listed as the main reason by voters behind not winning MVP this season.
On his part, Dončić has been putting in the work with his pesky defense. While there is no metric for defense, his efforts have been evident, translating into winning outcomes for the Lakers. This season, he averages 33.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game in 63 games.
While the debate continues, the Lakers, courtesy of their superstar’s rich form, have punched a playoff ticket. They are now well on their way to going past the 50-win mark, compared to their 50-32 record last season. The Lakers are now on a four-game win streak and will look to carry that momentum into their next game against the OKC Thunder.
