The Los Angeles Lakers have been on a tear in recent weeks, surging up the Western Conference standings at a critical point in the season. Los Angeles has won 10 of its last 11 games and now sits as the No. 3 seed in the NBA with just nine games remaining in the regular season. The late push has put the Lakers firmly in contention, turning what once looked like an inconsistent campaign into one of the hottest runs in the league heading into the postseason.
At the center of that surge has been Luka Doncic, who has delivered one of the most dominant stretches of basketball this season. During this run, Doncic has averaged 39.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.3 assists, including a 60-point performance against the Miami Heat. He also made history during the Lakers’ recent road stretch, becoming the first player since Michael Jordan in 1986 to average 40 points over a six-game span entirely on the road.
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77)Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
(Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
Despite that form, the league’s leading scorer this season finds himself in a tightly contested MVP race alongside Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama, Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic, and Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown. Each candidate has built a strong case through team success and individual production, making the race one of the closest in recent years.
On Friday, the NBA released its latest MVP ladder, and it sparked strong backlash from Lakers fans. Wembanyama climbed to the top spot, while Doncic, who had surged to second just a week earlier, dropped to fourth despite his historic stretch.
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“39/8/8 in his last 10 games with a 9-1 record but he somehow drops from 2nd to 4th,” a fan said.
“Yup Luka will never win an MVP in his lifetime this is a JOKE,” another fan added.
“why is jokic above luka ??” another fan questioned.
“Luka at 4 doesn’t make sense to me. Someone explain to me why Wemby rated over Luka,” wrote a fourth fan.
“NAH MAN THIS [is] RIGGED, LUKA 4???” one fan posted.
“Luka will have to average 50/20/20 to win MVP,” another fan remarked.
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The reaction comes just days after Michael Wilbon drew criticism for his take on Doncic’s MVP case, particularly his defense. “Don’t talk to me about a guy who plays half the court, Luka Doncic,” Wilbon said on ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption” podcast.
The remark, widely interpreted as a critique of Doncic’s defensive impact, quickly fueled debate across the league.
The final result of the MVP voting will be announced during the playoffs, and the top candidates have a few more games to convince the voters that they are deserving of the award.
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Related: Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Had Words for Luka Doncic Amid Lakers Season
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.