Luka's MVP Case Is Clear, And Stephen A. Is Finally Right

Look, Stephen A. Smith gets a lot of things wrong. We all know it. But when he makes the case for Luka Doncic to win NBA MVP this season? He's hitting closer to the truth than most of the talking heads screaming about Nikola Jokic. Don't get me wrong, Jokic is incredible, a basketball savant. But what Doncic is doing, dragging a sometimes-questionable Dallas Mavericks roster through the brutal Western Conference, is special.

Thing is, the MVP award has become this weird, nebulous thing. Is it the best player on the best team? The guy with the most ridiculous stats? Or the player most valuable to his team's success? If it's the latter, and it should be, then Doncic deserves serious consideration. Dallas, currently 48-30 and sitting fifth in the West as of April 10, would be lost without him. Absolutely lost.

Let's talk numbers, because that's where the MVP argument often lives. Doncic is averaging a staggering 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game. That's nearly a triple-double on the season, leading the league in scoring. Jokic is putting up 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9.0 assists. Those are phenomenal, no doubt. But the sheer offensive burden on Doncic is unmatched. He accounts for nearly half of the Mavericks' offense directly, either scoring or assisting. When he drops 73 points against the Atlanta Hawks on January 26, or records a 35-point triple-double in just 30 minutes against the Utah Jazz on March 11, you're watching a player operating at a different level of offensive mastery.

**The Weight on Luka's Shoulders**

Here's the real differentiator: the supporting cast. Jokic plays with Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Aaron Gordon – a lineup that's been to the Finals and won a championship. They know their roles, they execute. Dallas, on the other hand, has often felt like Luka and a revolving door of "who's that guy?" Kyrie Irving is a brilliant scorer, but he's missed 20 games this season. Dereck Lively II has been a revelation when healthy, but he's a rookie. P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford arrived mid-season, and while they've helped, they aren't All-Stars.

Doncic carries the offensive load every single night, navigating double teams, triple teams, and whatever bizarre defensive scheme opponents throw at him. He's not just scoring; he's orchestrating every possession, finding cutters, hitting impossible passes, and creating something out of nothing. The Mavs went 10-6 in March, a crucial run that solidified their playoff spot. In that stretch, Doncic averaged 32.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 10.8 assists. That's not just great; that's MVP-level leadership when it mattered most. Their 115-105 win over the Sacramento Kings on March 29, with Doncic dropping 26 points, 12 assists, and 9 rebounds, essentially locked up a top-six seed.

Now, I know the "best player on the best team" argument will come up. Denver has a better record, sitting second in the West at 54-24. But if you swapped Jokic and Doncic, would the Nuggets still be a top-tier team? Probably. Would the Mavericks be a playoff team? Absolutely not. They'd be lottery-bound. That's the definition of "most valuable."

My hot take? If the Mavericks somehow climb to the fourth seed, or even third, by the end of the regular season – and they've got a shot, with a favorable schedule remaining – then the MVP discussion becomes a full-blown argument for Doncic. He's doing more with less, playing at a historic statistical pace, and carrying his franchise on his back.

I'm telling you now: Luka Doncic will win an MVP within the next three seasons, and this year he's making a compelling case that should not be ignored.