One of the hottest topics in NBA circles as the regular season comes to a dramatic close is who will win the league's Most Valuable Player for the 2025-26 season.
Some suggest the reigning MVP and leader of the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Others point to the 7-foot-5 alien that is the San Antonio Spurs demi-god Victor Wembanyama. However, there's no better pick for this year's MVP award than Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic.
Recently, Wembanyama went to the media to plead his case for the MVP, and SGA responded by saying he lets his game do the talking. Luka took a different approach.
Although "The Don" has only recently burst into the forefront of the MVP conversation, he has been building a case quietly all season. Obviously, averaging 37.5 points per game in March while leading the Lakers to a 15–2 record is remarkable. What's crazier is the way he's played all season, earning several Player of the Week awards and soon-to-be two Player of the Month honors.
Luka Doncic has been the definition of MVP all year long
This season, Luka has won four Player of the Week awards and one Player of the Month award, earning honors for January and soon-to-be March. Having explosive months isn't all Luka has accomplished this season. He is on track to win his second scoring title, leading the league with an average of 33.8 points per game.
Luka may not always be the strongest defender, and that is the most valid point working against the Lakers' franchise player. However, the way he manipulates defenses, carries LA home in the clutch, and creates for his teammates helps offset that weakness. Also, it's worth noting that despite being labeled a poor defender, he is sixth in the NBA this season in steals per game.
If the MVP award is truly for the league's most valuable player, then not giving it to Luka would be straight-up robbery. On paper, both the Spurs and the Thunder would be playoff teams without their respective superstars. That can't be said about this Lakers team.
Sure, the Lakers have a solid roster. However, without Luka, they have no offense.
This season, LeBron has taken on a reduced role because he couldn't carry LA anymore. Imagine where this team would be if Luka weren't there.
Even though March was a special month for both Luka and the Lakers, voters can't let that overshadow just how special he has been all season. Being the Most Valuable Player isn't about one month, it isn't about the playoffs, it isn't about team record. It's about being consistently the player who brings the most value to their team that season. No player has embodied that more than Doncic.