Luka Doncic clearly wants to let his play do the talking when it comes to the MVP race. Unfortunately for the Los Angeles Lakers superstar, all that has proven throughout this season is how little the voters actually sit down to watch him hoop. Doncic was asked if he wanted to make a case for himself like Victor Wembanyama did. The invitation was not taken.
Doncic said: "I’m not the one voting but I think I’ve been playing pretty good. We've been winning. So, that’s it. That’s all I gotta say.”
Those comments came on the back of another ridiculous performance in the Lakers' definitive 127-113 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. While Doncic opted to stay relatively quiet on the matter, Rui Hachimura did not. The Lakers forward did the talking for his superstar teammate.
Hachimura said, "You can see he’s the MVP. I don’t really know everything about it but I can only see he’s the MVP of this league. ... People talk about his defense but he been getting good stops, steals, boxing out. Those little stuff he’s been doing on the court ... it’s been amazing”
Luka Doncic's lack of campaigning may be the death blow to his MVP push
When you do not speak on your behalf, others will speak for you. That has both been a negative, and a recent positive.
The downside has been the naysayers pushing against the idea of Doncic with every ludicrous idea and lazy narrative they can find under the sun. The upside is when you are beloved like Doncic, your teammates like Hachimura will push back against those poor talking points. His head coach, JJ Redick, has done the same.
How could they not after the type of month Luka just had?
After his latest and final outing in March, Doncic broke Kobe Bryant's Lakers record of most points scored in a single calendar month. Not only was the Lakers point guard toppling the legendary Black Mamba, but every other great who has walked through the building of the most storied franchise in league history.
It's not like Doncic has been one-dimensional during that time either. That has never been his game. Luka was also averaging 7.6 rebounds, 8.0 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. Those last two numbers might be a bit shocking to the crowd who does not believe Doncic plays any defense.
The narrative of Luka only being elite in March is simply untrue, too. Doncic has been top-five in WAR (Wins Above Replacement) ranks for four calendar months this season. Only Nikola Jokic (five) has done it more often.
Unfortunately, this may all just be forgotten about all the same because Luka will not publicly demand the award be given to him. In a tight race that has come down to narratives, there are only very few things that could boost Doncic's case more than that.