![\"Lakers](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776699982_50_GettyImages-2268208979-e1774903337463.jpg\")
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Lakers guard Luka Doncic reacts to a referee’s call in the second half against the Brooklyn Nets.<\/p>\n
Fans of the Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> had a strong reaction Sunday night after the NBA announced that Luka Doncic<\/a> failed to finish in the top-3 of MVP voting<\/a>.<\/p>\n Doncic, who led the league in scoring (33.5 PPG), will finish behind Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Nikola Jokic<\/a> and Victor Wembanyama<\/a> when the final ballot is announced.<\/p>\n As a result, the Slovenian is set to become the first scoring champion since Russell Westbrook in 2014-15<\/a> to finish outside the top 3 in MVP voting. That year, \u201cBrodie\u201d led the league in scoring but finished behind Stephen Curry<\/a>, James Harden<\/a> and LeBron James.<\/p>\n Per an MVP tracker<\/a> that registered ballots of some media members, Doncic received two third-place votes, four fourth-place votes and one fifth-place vote from among 28 media members. Only Khobi Price of the California Post and Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal voted for Doncic as a top-three MVP candidate.<\/p>\n The three finalists for the 2025-26 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award:<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0fShai Gilgeous-Alexander, @okcthunder<\/a> Lakers Fans React to Luka Doncic News<\/p>\n It\u2019s worth noting that Doncic won two Western Conference Player of the Month awards, as opposed to just the one for Jokic and SGA. Several fans brought up this fact while making a case for Doncic to receive more MVP consideration.<\/p>\n \u201cKinda late\u2026 but why is Luka not on here? Honestly should be number two and replace Jokic. Luka BALLED OUT towards the end of the season!\u201d wrote one fan.<\/a><\/p>\n Luka Doncic didn\u2019t make the cut as an MVP finalist despite leading the league in scoring.<\/p>\n Luka this season: MVP finalists: Luka Doncic is the only player in the last 10 seasons to win the scoring title and NOT be a finalist for MVP <\/p>\n The media doesn\u2019t hide it anymore \ud83d\ude02 <\/p>\n \u201cMedia can vote however they want, but it\u2019s the fans watching this league at the end of the day and we\u2019ll never forgive you for this robbery, luka is the real mvp,\u201d wrote one fan.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know any player in the history of the league who are 2 times player of the month, 4 times player of the week, led the league in ppg and top 3 in apg but not an mvp candidate,\u201d wrote another Lakers fan.<\/p>\n Lakers Vs Rockets Game 2<\/p>\n Doncic will sit out Game 2 against the Houston Rockets<\/a> on Saturday night as he continues to rehab his Grade 2 hamstring strain. Per multiple reports, he could potentially return for Game 4 on April 26 or Game 5 on April 29 \u2014 unless he suffers a setback in his recovery.<\/p>\n The All-Star guard returned to Los Angeles on Friday after spending a week in Europe, where he underwent specialized treatment for his injured hamstring and also visited his two daughters in Ljubljana. He was all smiles when he sat on the bench during Saturday\u2019s Game 1 win against the Rockets.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s in good spirits and we\u2019re excited to see him today,\u201d Redick said of his best player rejoining the team after being away from the team for over a week.<\/p>\n Redick has refused to offer a definitive timeline for Doncic\u2019s return.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s out indefinitely,\u201d Redick said on Friday,\u00a0via ESPN\u2019s Lisa Salters.<\/a><\/p>\n The Lakers vs. Rockets series will conclude with a Game 7 (if necessary) on May 3. Doncic, who sustained his injury on April 2, would be nearing the four-week timeline for a return around the start of Game 6 on May 1.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tSai Mohan<\/a> covers the NBA for Heavy.com. Based in Portugal, Sai is a seasoned sports writer with nearly two decades of publishing experience, including bylines at Yardbarker, FanSided’s Hoops Habit, International Business Times, Hindustan Times and more. More about Sai Mohan<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Lakers\n\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t
\n\u25aa\ufe0fNikola Joki\u0107, @nuggets<\/a>
\n\u25aa\ufe0fVictor Wembanyama, @spurs<\/a> <\/p>\n
\n33.5 PTS (1st)
\n7.7 REB
\n8.3 AST (4th)
\n1.6 STL
\n47.6% FG
\n36.6% 3PT<\/p>\n
\nShai Gilgeous-Alexander 31.6 PTS | 5.5 REB | 6.4 AST | 2.0 STL | 54.0% FG
\nNikola Jokic 27.8 <\/p>\n