Not a single general manager in the NBA believes that Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic will win MVP in 2026-27. That isn't a hyperbolic statement or an exaggeration of any kind, as the 2026-27 NBA GM Survey has been released and Doncic was noticeably absent from the MVP conversation.
It's an unfortunate sign that a snub campaign has already begun for a player who has consistently played at an MVP-caliber level, but never won the award.
Doncic has been a regular feature in MVP conversations as a six-time All-NBA First Team honoree. Unfortunately, he's been unable to secure the honor during an era that's been primarily dominated by Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and their combined seven MVP awards.
The Lakers have built their roster with the intent of complementing Doncic in 2026-27, however, which suggested something could change. Rival general managers don't seem to agree.
In the 2026-27 NBA GM Survey, San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama received 77 percent of the votes for the projected MVP award. Four other players received votes, as well: Nikola Jokic, Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jayson Tatum in that order.
As anyone can see, Doncic was not on the list. That certainly paints the picture of a perhaps inevitable snub and another year on the outside looking in.
NBA GMs snub Luka Doncic in vote for the projected 2026-27 MVP
To be clear: Five different players received at least one vote among the 30 general managers. It's certainly fair that Wembanyama dominated the voting, as he's a 7'4" Goliath who just led the Spurs to the NBA Finals and won Defensive Player of the Year during just his third season in the Association.
It's even fair that Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic, who have won five of the past six MVP awards, appeared on the list. Snubbing them would've been egregious.
The fact that Edwards and Tatum made it over Doncic, however, is a tough pill to swallow. That's by no means due to their extraordinary talent levels, as both could be in the running for the award if they play up to their full abilities in 2026-27.
Instead, it's a simple note that Doncic's six All-NBA First Team nods are six more than Edwards has, and Tatum has played 22 total games since the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
Doncic, meanwhile, has won two of the past three scoring titles. Furthermore, since 2019-20, he's accumulated averages of 30.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 8.6 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. He also led the Lakers to 53 wins in 2025-26 with a roster that had less depth than the 2026-27 group projects to possess, as well as questionable fits within key roles.
Hopefully Doncic turns this early slight into bulletin board material and makes himself undeniable in MVP debates. One simply can't help but feel as though the snub campaign has already begun.
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