While Luka Doncic races against time to recover from a second-degree hamstring strain, the Slovenian star has taken another hit: being left out of the three MVP finalists. Despite a spectacular season, the Michael Jordan Trophy will once again remain out of reach.

Head coach JJ Redick didn’t hide his frustration, pointing the finger at the narratives that often shape these awards.

I’m disappointed. Luka deserved to be in the top three. Unfortunately, a lot depends on media narratives. Even though we exceeded initial expectations, for a couple of months the media decided we were underperforming, and that narrative never really changed

JJ Redick

Doncic’s historic season – but not enough

The numbers say this has been the best version of Doncic we’ve ever seen: 33.5 points per game (NBA scoring leader), 7.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists.

He carried the Los Angeles Lakers to an impressive fourth seed in the West (53-29). Yet, in the race against Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka was left just off the podium.

According to many analysts, the issue remains the same: defense. While SGA, recently named Clutch Player of the Year, dominates on both ends, Doncic is still viewed as a liability on the defensive side. That limitation, combined with the 11-win gap behind the Thunder, weighed heavily on voters’ ballots.

The shadow of a Playoff absence

Beyond the disappointment of the award, there’s also the injury concern. With a 4-6 week recovery timeline, the risk that Luka’s season could already be over is real. Even though the Lakers hold a 2-0 lead over the Rockets, powered by a dominant LeBron James, the offense could suffer over the course of the series without him.

One question remains: if averaging 33 points per game and securing a fourth seed isn’t enough to be an MVP finalist, what does Luka need to do to convince voters?