Luka Doncic Eyeing First NBA MVP Award with the Lakers in 2026/27
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doni leaves the LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA - 2026/08/20: Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doni leaves the InterContinental Hotel for a team dinner during the Lakers' team mini camp. (Photo by Andrej Tarfila/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Following LeBron James' departure from Los Angeles this summer, Luka Doncic will enter the 2026/27 NBA season with another opportunity to accomplish one of the few individual achievements missing from his career — winning his first NBA MVP award.
The Lakers superstar is coming off another impressive season in which he averaged 33.5 points, 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game while earning his sixth All-NBA First Team selection.
Despite leading the NBA in scoring, Doncic did not finish as one of the three finalists for the MVP award, which was eventually won by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Now, the Slovenian superstar will enter another season as the main piece of the Lakers, and will do so for the first time without LeBron James on his team.
MVP history
Doncic has been considered an MVP candidate multiple times throughout his career but has yet to win the award.
His best finish came during the 2023/24 season with the Dallas Mavericks, when he finished third in MVP voting after averaging 33.9 points, 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds per game.
That same season, Doncic helped the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals before eventually losing to the Boston Celtics.
Since entering the league in 2018, Doncic has established himself as one of the best offensive players in basketball, earning multiple All-NBA selections while consistently averaging close to a triple-double.
Lakers expectations
The biggest factor in Doncic's MVP case may ultimately be the Lakers' success during the regular season.
Los Angeles finished last season with one of the best records in the Western Conference, but ultimately fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Conference semifinals without being able to count on Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who were both out with injuries.
If Doncic can remain healthy and continue producing at the level he has shown throughout his NBA career, his numbers should once again put him in the MVP conversation.
First MVP?
Doncic has already won Rookie of the Year, earned multiple All-NBA selections and reached the NBA Finals during his career, but an MVP award continues to be one of the biggest accomplishments he is missing.
Looking in the best shape of his career since arriving at the Lakers, Doncic will once again enter the year as one of the NBA's biggest names to watch in the MVP conversation.