NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 8: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks smiles during the game against the New York Knicks on February 8, 2024 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Mavs' Luka Dončić Eyes NBA MVP During Career: 'Obviously, I Would Like One'

zach bacharFeb 9, 2024

Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Dončić is planning on taking home the league's Most Valuable Player award at some point throughout his career.

"Obviously, I would like one," Dončić said during an appearance on JJ Redick's The Old Man and The Three podcast on Friday (54:00 mark). "Of course. Who wouldn't like MVP?"

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The 24-year-old has already established himself as one of the best players in the NBA since he entered the league in 2018, winning the Rookie of the Year award before making All-Star appearances in each of the next five years.

Dončić has also finished within the top 10 players in MVP voting in every season since his inaugural year in the association. The closest he's been to earning the honor was in 2020 when he finished fourth in the voting behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James and James Harden.

He'll likely be in the conversation once again this season as his current scoring average of 34.6 points per game is the highest mark in the NBA. Dončić is also recording 8.8 rebounds to go along with a career-high 9.5 assists each night, racking up nine triple-doubles throughout to date.

He's achieved several impressive milestones this season, surpassing 10,000 career points on Dec. 25 to become the sixth-youngest player in NBA history to do so. On Jan. 26, he scored 73 points against the Atlanta Hawks to set the highest single-game scoring total of any player in the 2023-24 season.

The Mavericks currently hold the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, which could hurt his chances of earning the award in 2024. However, it isn't difficult to imagine Dončić hoisting the Michael Jordan Trophy before his career is over.