Lakers' Luka Doncic Could Climb MVP Rankings With Injuries to Stars

Nov 15, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Lakers are off to a good start to the season. LA sits at 11-4 through their first 15 games of the season and were at their healthiest in their latest game against the Utah Jazz. 

Things are looking up for the Lakers as we approach the month of December. Not only is that the case, but Lakers superstar guard Luka Doncic is playing at an MVP level. 

That doesn't come as a surprise, as many expected Doncic to be in the MVP race; however, what does come as a surprise is his ranking in the latest Bleacher Report MVP race. 

According to Dan Favale of Bleacher Report, Doncic is currently ranked fifth. Favale also added that Doncic has a great chance to climb the rankings thanks to injuries to Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama. 

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"Luka Dončić's career-best 34.4 points per game have him on track to win his second scoring title. If the return of LeBron James knifes into his bucket-getting, it'll likely result in an efficiency and assist-total bump.

"He could use the former from beyond the arc, where he's hovering below 33 percent. And the frequency with which he reaches the rim has never been lower. These might register as red flags if the Los Angeles Lakers weren't dominating the competition during his minutes, or if his 60-plus percent clip on twos wasn't a high watermark.

"Holding serve in this discussion won't be easy. Injuries to Victor Wembanyama (calf strain) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (groin strain) open the door for Dončić' to climb, but he'll also need to fend off the likes of Cade Cunningham, Donovan Mitchell and Alperen Şengün moving forward.

"Of the three, Cunningham's case is more compelling, even if only slightly. Şengün is the nerve center of what has thus far been one of the league's top offenses. But Cunningham is working with less overall talent around him and might be the best defender of anyone who's also their team's primary ball-handler." 

Injuries or not to those stars, you could certainly make the case for Doncic at the top of the MVP leaderboard. 

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In the season, the 26-year-old superstar is averaging 34.6 points per game, 8.5 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 1.9 steals while shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 31.7 percent from three in 11 games and 36.8 minutes of action. 

If Doncic could lead the Lakers to a top-four seed and continue his stellar play, expect him to not only be in the running but possibly win his first MVP of his career. 

For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.