If the Los Angeles Lakers are successful with Luka Donsic, they can have two players in the race to win an NBA award at the end of the season.
In his first 28 games against the Los Angeles Lakers, Luka Donsic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists 43.8% off the floor. It was his worst stretch since his rookie season.
Between traded by the Dallas Mavericks, a calf injury and lingering concerns about his weight, fans seem to have forgotten that Don Sic is one of the three best players in the world, and the perfect summer is expected to take shape and return to playing state, he is expected to inform the league.
Doncic will once again be in the MVP race, with one of his new teammates running to win his own award.
In his seven NBA seasons, Doncic won five All-NBA first teams and took part in the top five MVP polls three times. The additional attention of performing in Los Angeles next to LeBron James and the story surrounding his “Revenge Tour” made him very easy to win his first MVP this season.
But things have to fall on his path.
“He has to do what his numbers are ridiculous and if they are six species, or if his numbers are Luka’s numbers, but they are in the top four, you know, and I don’t know if they have that talent,” predicted Dave Dufour.
Among juggernauts such as Thunder, Rockets, Nuggets and Timberwolves, “Luka Magic” is a true megastar and can put the Lakers on their backs, but it’s hard to imagine the Lakers finishing in the top four.
The only question is whether he can lead the entire 82-game season. To his credit, the Lakers added Deandre Ayton, who can become a high-level center.
“Luca’s MVP incident is that Ayton has an All-Star season,” insisted Es Baraheni.
If Ayton breaks out as the true third or fourth option on the top-seeded Lakers team, he hasn’t played the All-Star Game in the end after years of scrutiny. He could also bring him an individual award at the end of the season.
There’s no denying that Ayton is a great player. Since entering the league in 2018, he has averaged 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds, but he has not made any effort.
His lack of effort has long been the biggest knock of his career, but he has a contract to “prove it” alongside Doncic and James, two of the league’s most intense competitors.
If he can ultimately capitalize on his infinite possibilities, Ayton might be able to bring the George Mikan Trophy home.
“Deandre Ayton seems good for the player that has been the most improved for me,” Dufour said. “It’s about his career, not expectations. Do you know what I mean? I mean, if you see the year he had last year, that’s not good at all.”
The former top pick MIP may not be in the awards spirit, but Ayton has so far been ruled out from a potentially overlooked draft.
The NBA history team doesn’t boast both MVP and MIP. The Lakers could be the first team to be well-conditioned with Ayton and Doncic fit.