Luka Doncic is having the best season of his NBA career.
Entering the 2023-24 NBA All-Star break, the Mavericks superstar is leading the league in scoring with an average of 34.2 points. He has a bit of a cushion in this statistical category, with Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander trailing by 3.1 points.
Doncic has been a driving force for the Mavericks this season, leading the team to victory after battling various injuries. His major accomplishments include scoring 73 points against Atlanta, tied for fourth in league history. With those factors in mind, where does Doncic rank among the NBA's best player candidates?
There's no guarantee that players will win the prestigious award in the postseason, but the NBA's MVP title will change hands this year. To win the league award, a player must appear in at least 65 games. Philadelphia's Joel Embiid won't be able to win the MVP award for the past few years because his season was affected by a torn meniscus in his left knee.
According to NBA.com, here's how the MVP race looks (as of February 18):
1. Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic
Season statistics: 26.1 points, 12 rebounds, 8.9 assists per game
2. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Season statistics: 31.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists per game
3. Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo
Season statistics: 31.1 points, 11.2 rebounds, 6.4 assists per game
4. Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic
Season statistics: 34.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 9.5 assists per game
5. Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum
Season statistics: 27.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists per game
T-6.Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard
Season statistics: 24.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists per game
T-6.Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis
Season statistics: 20.1 points, 13.2 rebounds, 8.3 assists per game
8. Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell
Season statistics: 28. 4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.3 assists per game
9. Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant
Season statistics: 28.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists per game
10. Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis
Season statistics: 24.9 points, 12.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists per game
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