The Los Angeles Lakers begin their first season without LeBron James on Wednesday night, as Luka Doncic will look to be the main superstar leading the Lakers against the Golden State Warriors. With Doncic now firmly established as the Lakers' franchise centerpiece, it could mean big things for the six-time All-Star and two-time scoring champion. However, the Warriors' Draymond Green has a bold prediction about Doncic's MVP chances.
"Luka will never win an MVP in the NBA. This is the last possible year he can win it," Green stated while speaking to Taylor Rooks on his podcast. He contended that Doncic has already set a high statistical standard, and that averaging 34 points per game along with other big stats wouldn't necessarily impress the MVP voters.
Green said the same of the Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum, due to "fatigue" surrounding their abilities to average big numbers. More news: LeBron James Confronts Knicks Fan in Heated Exchange During 76ers Debut Tatum started his season with the Celtics on Tuesday afternoon. He finished with just 13 points, along with 11 assists and four rebounds in a losing effort against the Detroit Pistons.
Meanwhile, his teammate, Paul George, went off for 38 points, hitting 12 of 21 field goals, which included making seven 3-pointers. Doncic became a contender in last season's Most Valuable Player race, averaging 33.5 points, 8.3 assists, 7.7 rebounds, and shooting 47.6% from the field. He finished fourth overall with zero first-place votes and 250 total points.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received 83 first-place MVP votes and a total of 939 points to win the award for his second straight season. The Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic and the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama also received first-place votes, highlighting the strong competition Doncic faces in an increasingly crowded MVP field. This season offers Doncic the chance to really prove himself by leading the Lakers in a successful campaign.
Whether that will be enough to overcome the voter fatigue Green described remains to be seen. The Warriors and Lakers tip off at 10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
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