Mavs' Jason Kidd Pushes Luka Doncic MVP Campaign After Dominant Win vs. Spurs
DALLAS — Luka Doncic has provided the Dallas Mavericks with substantial production this season, averaging 34.2 points, 9.5 assists, and 8.8 rebounds in 47 games.
The Mavs hold a 32-23 record at the NBA All-Star break after going 29-18 record when Doncic is in the lineup versus being 3-5 without him. Despite the team dealing with a substantial amount of injuries to key players this season, Doncic has continued to power through his own injuries to lead his team to success.
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On Wednesday night, Mavs coach Jason Kidd strongly advocated for Doncic to win the MVP award after the team's 116-93 victory over the San Antonio Spurs after he recorded 27 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists in 31 minutes of action.
“He should be mentioned more in the MVP conversation off what he’s done here this month,” Kidd said. “Heading into Indiana (for the All-Star Game), he’s one of the best in the world, and we wish him the best of luck with that.
“But he also needs to get some rest and get ready. Everyone’s bunched up (in the Western Conference)," Kidd explained. "One through four is bunched up. Five through nine is bunched up, so every game is going to mean something, and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Doncic was recently named Western Conference Player of the Week and remains one of the NBA's premier candidates for the MVP award. The team has established a six-game winning streak amid continued optimism the Mavs face after trading for P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford. The best way for Doncic to maximize his outlook to win the award will be for seventh-ranked Dallas to continue to win games.
Joel Embiid was recently officially ruled out as a candidate after missing too many games to reach the 65-game mark. Other candidates remain Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
