Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick reiterated his support for Luka Doncic’s Most Valuable Player bid on Tuesday, stating that the guard should win the award if the team closes the regular season the way it is playing now.
“If we continue to finish the season the way we’re playing right now, and he continues to play that way— to me, he is the MVP,” Redick said before the Lakers’ game against the Washington Wizards.
Doncic, in his first full season with Los Angeles, has powered the Lakers to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. The team opened the season 15-4, encountered a difficult stretch in the middle of the year, and has surged again since Jan. 18. According to Redick, Los Angeles is tied for the league’s second-best record during that span.
“He’s been the MVP for two of the three segments of the season,” Redick added. “Our losses are just so loud. When we’re healthy, he’s the engine that’s driving all of our winning.”
The guard’s early-season scoring spree and his post-All-Star performance have drawn praise, yet betting markets still favor Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to repeat as MVP, while Victor Wembanyama has gained late momentum in the race.
Teammate Austin Reaves recently pointed to what he views as a bias against Doncic in MVP discussions. Reaves spoke after Doncic’s 41-point outing against the Brooklyn Nets, a game the Lakers won comfortably.
Doncic will have additional chances to strengthen his résumé as Los Angeles navigates the final weeks of the 2025-26 regular season.
Source: Lakers Nation
