The year Luka Doncic broke the Dallas Mavericks' single-season scoring record, he also led the NBA with an average of 33.9 points per game. Combined with his 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 9.8 assists, Doncic became the first player in league history to average those numbers.
Doncic, who turned 25 in February, is the youngest leading scorer since Kevin Durant did it at age 23 in the 2011-12 season. During that season, Durant averaged 28.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, finishing second in MVP voting behind LeBron James.
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Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
This could be another similarity between Doncic and Durant, as No. 77 is widely expected to fall behind Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets in this season's MVP race. Despite Jokic himself saying that Doncic should be this year's MVP after putting up historic numbers and leading the Mavs to a 50-win season amid injuries and restructuring of key rosters, many Voters don't seem to agree.
“I think he 100 percent deserves to be MVP,” Jokic said of Doncic. “But to be honest, it wasn't my decision.”
Kyrie Irving, who meshes well with Doncic as a co-star, gave his pitch on why his teammate should win MVP this season.
“His stats say it all. He's No. 1 in a lot of different categories,” Irving said. “Even when I was out of the lineup and I was injured, he carried this team. There are many factors that go into his MVP award, but as his brother, I want to give him as much love and support as possible. I want to see.
“Even if it's not this year, it will eventually happen in the future or the near future.”
