Lakers coach JJ Redick sarcastically suggested that Luka Doncic hasn't gotten more MVP support because he complains to the referees. Redick also praised Luka as one of the best players in basketball.
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Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic scored 60 points, leading his team to an eight-game winning streak with a 134-126 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday at Kaseya Center.
Doncic was so dominant that even the Miami crowd began chanting, "MVP! MVP!" in his honor.
"He made big shots, he made tough shots, made a lot of right reads. When he gets it going like that, you just kind of let him go," coach JJ Redick said, praising the Slovenian star.
"We would not be anywhere near the position we're in if he wasn't having the season he's having."
During the Lakers' current win streak, Doncic is averaging 40.9 points per game.
Over 58 games this season, Luka leads the league with 33.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game – numbers that put him firmly in the MVP conversation alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Jaylen Brown, and Victor Wembanyama.
"He's playing as well as anyone in basketball," Redick added. "He's really elevated his play at a really important time for our team. He's elevated the play of his teammates.
"I think there's a trust level that we all have – coaches, teammates – with him closing games for us. He's been fantastic, and I think he's one of the best and should be in the MVP conversation.
"Hopefully people will start talking about that because he's having as good a season as anyone."
Redick, who had previously voted on NBA awards as an ESPN analyst, discussed why Doncic hasn't received more public MVP support.
"Because he complains to the refs," the coach said sarcastically. "I don't know."
Luka himself is pragmatic about his MVP chances.
"It's you guys, the media [that votes]," he said. "I ain't got nothing to do with it."
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