Dallas Mavericks stud Luka Doncic is undeniably one of the fastest rising stars in the NBA today. The reigning Rookie of the Year had a tremendous debut season with the Mavs, and as he enters his second season with Dallas, it truly seems that the sophomore slump is not something we can expect from the 20-year-old.
There is no doubt that the expectations are high for Doncic this coming season, but the question we'd like to address right now is this: is he actually capable of forcing his way into the MVP conversation in the 2019-20 season?
First off, let's not forget that Doncic has already one the MVP award in the past. As an 18-year-old, the 6-foot-7 guard bagged the EuroLeague Most Valuable Player trophy during the 2017-18 season. Sure, the competition pales in comparison to that of the NBA, but it is still important to note that he has already achieved this feat in the past.
To be clear, though, we do not expect Doncic to actually win the MVP award this coming season. Guys like Giannis Antetokounmpo (the reigning MVP), James Harden, and even Stephen Curry will likely be the top names on the list come June next year. However, what we are arguing here is that Doncic might actually have a legitimate shot at entering the MVP discussion this term. Below are four reasons why.
Numbers Don't Lie
For starters, let's take a quick look back at Russell Westbrook's historic, MVP-winning 2016-17 campaign. A couple of seasons ago, the former Oklahoma City Thunder superstar averaged a mind-boggling triple-double with 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists, along with 2.5 three-pointers, 1.6 steals, and 0.4 blocks per contest. We're probably not going to see those types of numbers in a very long time.
However, looking at Doncic's game, one can argue that he too can average a triple-double. In his rookie year, he logged 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 6.0 assists, and considering how he is widely expected to further improve his game this coming season, it's not too far fetched to say that he might just be flirting with a triple-double on a nightly basis.
Numbers don't lie, and at the end of the day, statistics play a key role in the MVP voting. Even if Doncic fails to actually average a triple-double, coming close to the same will definitely make him stand out as one of the most special — and most exciting to watch — players in the league.
The Keys to the Castle
Another thing Doncic has going for him is the fact that head coach Rick Carlisle has so much faith in him. Carlisle handed over the reigns to Doncic in his rookie year, and this is not expected to change this coming season. This simply means that Doncic will be provided with a ton of opportunity to show the world what he's got.
Last season, Doncic had a 30.5 percent usage rate for the Mavs, which is actually one of the highest rates in the entire league. To be specific, this ranked 11th in the entire league, topping the likes of Stephen Curry (30.4), Kawhi Leonard (30.3), and Damian Lillard (29.3). In layman's terms, Doncic had the ball in his hands for a significant amount of time throughout the season, and given how much of the same is expected this term, he should be able to have full control of fate in the new season.
The Kristaps Factor
Following a lengthy spell on the sidelines, Kristaps Porzingis is finally expected to make his Mavs debut this coming campaign. Some may think that the return of the All-Star big man might take away from Doncic's spotlight, but we actually believe otherwise. As a matter of fact, the presence of Porzingis might actually make Doncic's game even better.
The Mavs will surely be bringing along Porzingis as slowly as the possibly can in order to avoid any recurrence of his ACL injury. This means that especially during the start of the season, this will still be Doncic's team. He will actually be key in how quickly Porzingis is able to acclimatize himself into Dallas' system. Even when Porzingis is finally able to return to full strength, the Latvian big man will still need Doncic to get the ball to him.
Simply put, the return of Porzingis should not have an adverse effect on Doncic. If anything, it will likely even elevate his game to a higher level.
The Mavs' Season Outlook
One last thing to consider here is the fact that Mavs are not expected to be a serious contender in the Western Conference this season. This gives Doncic a considerable amount of breathing room, sans the pressure of needing to win night in and night out. Should Dallas be able to perform better than expected in the season, then surely, the underdog narrative will be another thing Docnic will have going for him.
Again, realistically speaking, Doncic will not win the MVP trophy this coming season. However, if all goes according to plan, then he might just squeeze in a few votes by the end of the season. This might not be his year just yet, but it would not be surprising if Doncic becomes a legitimate contender for the MVP award in the near future.
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