Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick believes Luka Doncic will be firmly in the 2025-26 Most Valuable Player race—provided the team piles up wins.
Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Redick said the superstar guard’s primary motivation is team success. “He’s motivated by winning, and if we win at a high level, he will be in that conversation for MVP,” the coach noted.
The comment comes as the Lakers enter Doncic’s first full season with the franchise. The 26-year-old arrives in peak condition after an impressive showing at FIBA EuroBasket 2025. With LeBron James expected to miss the start of the schedule, Redick plans to lean even more on Doncic to run the offense.
Historically, MVP voters favor players on elite teams; clubs hovering around .500 rarely produce winners. A top-four finish in the Western Conference—described by Redick as a “gauntlet”—combined with Doncic’s customary production would likely place him alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic in the annual debate.
Doncic already owns three top-five MVP finishes, peaking at third in 2024 when his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, won 50 games and reached the NBA Finals. Replicating that level of success in purple and gold would satisfy both player and club.
Looking ahead, Doncic has identified physicality—especially at the opening tip—as a priority for the Lakers. “When we start games being physical is when we’re at our best,” he said, urging the team to set an aggressive tone in pick-and-roll situations.
Source: Lakers Nation
