NBA General Managers Overlook Luka Doncic in MVP Projections, Sparking Debate

Luka Doncic, the leading scorer in the NBA last season, has been notably absent from the projected Most Valuable Player (MVP) rankings, according to a preseason poll of league general managers. None of the GMs surveyed anticipate Doncic will win the award this season, a decision that has drawn criticism and raised questions about voter perception.

In the poll released on October 15, Victor Wembanyama received 77% of the votes for projected MVP, followed by Nikola Jokic (10%) and Anthony Edwards (7%). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jayson Tatum also garnered votes. Doncic, however, received zero votes.

This oversight comes despite Doncic's remarkable performance statistics. Last season, he led the league in scoring with 33.5 points per game and finished third in assists with 8.3 per game. During March of the previous season, he averaged 37.5 points, eight rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 2.3 steals, leading his team to a 15-2 record, yet he reportedly fell in NBA.com's MVP rankings at that time.

Doncic himself has previously expressed confusion about his standing, stating in March, "The better I play, the more I go down in rankings. So, I don’t know what more I can do." This sentiment was underscored by his recent performance on Sunday, where he scored 52 points on 56.7% shooting, with eight rebounds and 10 assists, helping his team rally from an 18-point deficit to defeat the Jazz 132-123. This marked his 10th career 50-point performance and the first 50-point game of the current season.

Since being traded to the Lakers in February 2025, Doncic has accumulated more 40-point performances (19) than LeBron James did in his eight seasons with the team (18). He also ranks third in career 50-point games among active players, trailing only James Harden and Damian Lillard.

Golden State Warriors player Draymond Green offered a theory for Doncic's lack of MVP consideration, suggesting "voter fatigue." Green explained on his podcast, "The Draymond Green Show," that voters may become accustomed to a player's consistent greatness over several years, and if that player hasn't reached the MVP threshold, voters tend to look elsewhere or focus on newer stars.

Doncic, now the face of the Lakers franchise after LeBron James's departure, has embraced a leadership role. He reportedly had significant input on offseason roster moves, including the acquisition of Walker Kessler, and organized a mini-camp in Slovenia in August to build team chemistry.

In an interview, Doncic acknowledged the significance of an MVP award, stating, "It would definitely mean a lot... Obviously a championship, that’s what you play for every game... But obviously it would be nice to win the MVP also." However, he emphasized that team success is paramount, as individual accolades depend on collective performance.

Critics of Doncic's MVP candidacy often cite his tendency to complain to officials and perceived defensive shortcomings. However, proponents argue that these factors did not prevent previous MVP winners like Steph Curry, Nikola Jokic, or James Harden from receiving the award. The argument that a player needs to lead their team to the top seed in their conference has also been challenged, citing Russell Westbrook's 2017 MVP win with the Thunder finishing sixth in the West and Jokic's 2021 MVP award with the Nuggets finishing third.

Despite the perceived slight from the general managers, Doncic has a history of strong MVP finishes, placing fourth in voting last season. The narrative suggests that voter fatigue or an overemphasis on new talent might be overshadowing Doncic's consistent, elite-level play, prompting a call for a reevaluation of his standing in the league's most prestigious individual award conversation.