Golden State Warriors v Los Angeles Lakers
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There is a GOAT threatening Luka Doncic's MVP aspirations for the 2025-26 NBA season. No, it is not LeBron James. In this instance, it would be Nikola Jokic who could derail Doncic from finally being recognized for individual honors.
ESPN's group of NBA insiders came together for a summer forecast recently. The focus of this one was projecting the leading candidates for the end-of-season awards the league has to offer.
The MVP race was put into focus. Despite Doncic already having a strong narrative to be the frontrunner, ESPN's NBA insiders still opted to go with Jokic as the player who would take home the trophy.
The voting system they installed featured the Denver Nuggets superstar claim 83 points in the forecast. Doncic was the runner-up with 62 points of his own. Trailing the two leading candidates were Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Edwards, and Kevin Durant.
Jokic’s push toward all-time status could cost Doncic the MVP trophy
Jokic has already secured an MVP trophy at Doncic's expense. That took place back in the 2023-24 NBA season.
Luka offered up a historic season in which the former Dallas Mavericks superstar posted the highest collective averages of points, rebounds, and assists per game since the NBA-ABA merger. Despite bringing 33.9 points, 9.8 assists, and 9.2 rebounds to the table, to go with a 50-win team, Doncic finished third in the MVP voting.
Jokic's Nuggets enjoyed better team success, with a record of 57-25, plus the advanced metrics loved the Serbian center as always. The future Hall of Famer led the league in win shares, win shares per-48, box plus/minus, value over replacement player, and player efficiency rating.
Adding the 2025-26 NBA MVP to Jokic's trophy cabinet would put him in rare company. Only five players in NBA history have won at least four MVP awards. LeBron, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, and Wilt Chamberlain make up the entire list. Jokic could make it six.
The Nuggets superstar has undeniably been the best player in the world for an extended stretch. However, Jokic has not been impossible to unseat from that MVP trophy.
Gilgeous-Alexander did it during this past season. Joel Embiid did it back in the 2022-23 season. Both times, narrative became a big reason for Jokic's demise.
That would be Doncic's saving grace in his pursuit during 2025-26. The Lakers superstar would be a first-time winner, and the idea that Luka is overdue for an MVP is inescapable.
Coupling that with the body transformation and the revenge tour should give Doncic his window of opportunity to fend off Jokic. However, that has been easier said than done in recent history.