JJ Redick on Luka Doncic being an NBA MVP candidate
Lakers coach JJ Redick said that Luka Doncic deserves more consideration for the NBA MVP award due to his amazing play of late.
Luka Doncic has never played better basketball, at least since he joined the Los Angeles Lakers 13 months ago. He had already been on a tear in the month of March when he exploded on Thursday for 60 points on 18-of-30 field-goal shooting, 9-of-17 from 3-point range and 15-of-19 from the free throw line. Thanks largely to him, the Lakers defeated the Miami Heat 134-126 to extend their winning streak to eight contests.
Doncic is averaging 40. 9 points a game during this streak, and he continues to lead the NBA in scoring average. Still, it seems extremely unlikely he will win this season's MVP award, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, last season's MVP, is the heavy favorite to win the honor again.
Lakers coach JJ Redick reminded people that Doncic deserves more serious consideration for the MVP award than he has been getting. "He's playing as well as anyone in basketball," Redick said of Doncic. "He's really elevated his play at a really important time for our team.
He's elevated the play of his teammates. I think there's a trust level that we all have -- coaches, teammates -- with him closing games for us. He's been fantastic, and I think he's one of the best and should be in the MVP conversation.