Lakers’ Luka Dončić “will never win an MVP in the NBA,” according to Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green, who made the shocking statement on his podcast Wednesday. Green’s take has immediately ignited the league, especially since he flat out declared, “This is the last possible year he can win it.”
Draymond’s Wild Take on Voter Fatigue
Green’s argument hinges on a contentious point: voter fatigue. He believes that if Luka averages 34 points a game, people will just shrug and say, “Oh, yeah, of course Luka averaged 34 points a game.” He applies the same logic to Jayson Tatum, suggesting that if Tatum hits 30 points, voters will feel it’s expected, even if both players pull off incredible lines like 30 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds.
Green even referenced LeBron James to back his claim, asking, “You can’t tell me he only should have four MVPs.” He hinted that James’ consistent brilliance was eventually taken for granted, potentially costing him more MVP trophies. Michael Jordan’s five MVPs in 15 seasons is another example often cited in this debate. It’s a bold claim that consistency might actually work against a player in the long run, even for a talent like Doncic.
The Real Reasons Luka’s MVP Trophy Cabinet Is Empty
While voter fatigue might be a factor in some cases, the reality for Luka Dončić could be far more complex than Green’s simple explanation. The league has seen players maintain elite status and still rack up hardware. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, for example, is the two-time reigning MVP, showing that voters aren’t necessarily “fatigued” by consistent excellence. Nikola Jokić also collected three MVPs over a four-year span and was a runner-up multiple times, proving sustained dominance can lead to awards. Even Joel Embiid finally won his MVP in 2022-23 after back-to-back runner-up finishes, and voters certainly didn’t take his monstrous season for granted.
For Doncic specifically, the glaring omission on his resume probably comes down to two key factors. First, his availability has been a hurdle. The six-time All-Star has logged 70-plus appearances in a season only twice in his entire career, and let’s be real, you can’t be “most valuable” if you’re not on the court consistently. Second, team success plays a huge role. The Dallas Mavericks managed only one top-four finish in the Western Conference during Doncic’s first six full seasons there. That kind of team performance will always present a major roadblock in an MVP quest because “most valuable” doesn’t just mean best stats.
So, while Green’s comments are spicy, the cold hard truth is that availability and team wins are massive components in the MVP conversation. It will definitely be surprising if Dončić never earns an MVP given his talent, but plenty of distinguished stars from every era have finished their careers without that particular status. Will Luka find a way to overcome these very real hurdles, or is Draymond’s prediction about his MVP chances already set in stone?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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