NBA MVP race looks to be wide open in reshuffled league hierarchy
By Phil Watson
. Luka Doncic. 10. player. 79. .
Right off the bat, a legitimate long shot to win the NBA MVP. Luke Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks is the reigning Rookie of the Year and would become just the second player after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1969-70 and 1970-71 to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in consecutive seasons.
Doncic had an outstanding rookie season for a 33-win Dallas club that missed the postseason for the third straight season, but with the addition of a healthy Kristaps Porzingis and some added depth in Big D, the Mavericks could compete even in a Western Conference that will be a dogfight.
He averaged 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.1 steals in 32.2 minutes per game, just the second rookie since Oscar Robertson in 1960-61 to average a 21/7/6 stat line.
Doncic shot only 42.7 percent overall and just 32.7 percent on 7.1 3-point attempts per game, so improved efficiency will be key to his ability to become even a fringe MVP contender.
He is entering his age-20 season, which would also make him the youngest MVP in history. Derrick Rose, then of the Chicago Bulls, was in his age-22 season when he won the award in 2010-11 and was slightly younger then Baltimore Bullets rookie Wes Unseld was in his MVP season of 1968-69.
Part of Doncic’s improvement could be in reducing the 3.4 turnovers he averaged per game last season, but his assist numbers could increase given he will have Porzingis as a running mate.
The Slovenian sensation would have a major uphill climb, but he has the game and might also have the supporting cast to make a surprising run at MVP honors.