Luka Doncic climbs to second place on the MVP ladder

On NBA.com's latest MVP ladder, Luka Doncic has moved up to second place, overtaking Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and now trailing only Nikola Jokic. The surge in the Mavericks' performance has been the key factor propelling the Slovenian superstar up the rankings. Throughout the 2023-24 season, Doncic has showcased remarkable growth, averaging 33.9 points (ranking first), 9.8 assists (third), and 9.1 rebounds in 63 games, contributing significantly to the Mavs' 40-23 record in his appearances.

In their recent 132-96 victory against the Sacramento Kings, the Mavericks climbed to sixth place in the Western Conference standings. Doncic contributed 28 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists in just 32 minutes, sitting out the entire fourth quarter.

Doncic has been instrumental in the Mavericks' recent success, featuring in their last nine wins out of ten, where he averaged 29.8 points, 10.0 assists, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game. The lone absence was in a narrow 126-120 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Mavericks' position in the standings has impacted Doncic's MVP chances, but with their recent climb to sixth place and potential for further advancement, there's still room for improvement. Currently trailing the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers by 2.0 games and the fifth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans by 1.5 games, Dallas remains within striking distance.


Their upcoming schedule presents tough challenges against motivated Western Conference opponents to conclude a five-game road trip. Following their dominating win earlier in the week, the Mavericks face the Kings again on Friday. Despite having two days between games, Doncic's availability is uncertain due to left Achilles soreness.

Following the Kings matchup, Dallas will square off against the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors, crucial games as they vie for a spot in the play-in tournament.

Nikola Jokic maintains his lead in the MVP race despite battling left hip soreness and lower back pain. Denver has won four of its last five games, with Jokic averaging 29 points, 12.5 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 1.5 steals in the four games he played during that stretch. Meanwhile, Luka Doncic has moved up to second place in the MVP rankings according to NBA.com, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has slipped to third.

Unfortunately, Gilgeous-Alexander's injury status casts doubt over his availability for Friday's home game against Phoenix, as he's listed as doubtful due to a right quadriceps contusion sustained over a week ago. This injury comes at a challenging time for the Thunder, who face five consecutive road games following the matchup with the Suns, including tough matchups against New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Indiana.

Source Sports Illustrated : Dallas Mavs' Luka Doncic Trails Only Nikola Jokic on NBA MVP Ladder
Source NBA : Kia MVP Ladder: Luka Doncic's momentum moves him to No. 2