Former NBA champion refuses to put Luka Doncic in MVP conversation - “Your team can’t be sitting at the number 9th or 10th spot”
Luka Doncic has earned himself several MVP mentions this season. However, former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins doesn't necessarily feel the same way.
The Dallas Mavericks superstar has had a tremendous season thus far. Putting his offensive prowess on full display, Doncic continues to remind global audiences of his talent on the basketball court.
Given the manner in which Doncic has improved with each season, he and the Mavericks were expected to make a lot of noise this season. Keeping their recent postseason run in mind, there was no reason to believe that the Mavs wouldn't be a title contender this season.
While Luka Doncic continues to be an absolute force of nature on the offensive side of things, the Mavericks haven't necessarily been the most dominant team in the West. After barely scraping by on a .500 record, the team has several questions to face regarding their shortcomings.
Considering Dallas' relatively underwhelming record, Doncic has faced some criticism as well. Given that a superstar is supposed to impact the game in a manner that leads to winning games, the Slovenian hasn't necessarily hit the mark.
This criticism certainly holds true for former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins.
While several analysts have maintained that Doncic should be considered an MVP candidate, Perkins doesn't even mention the Mavs star in his top five. When asked why Doncic was not in his top five as an MVP candidate due to Dallas' current state, Perkins responded by saying:
"Yes, yes, because not only do you need to have great individual numbers, but your team has to be winning. Your team can't be sitting at the number 9th or 10th spot and a .500 record and then you expect for him to be in the MVP conversation. It's just not how it works.
"Luka has been doing his thing individually. But last time I checked, your team has to have success and be in the top tier as well."
Luka Doncic is NOT a top-five MVP candidate according to @KendrickPerkins 😳
"Last time I checked... your team has to have success and be up in the top tier as well." https://t.co/Tb1bNzw2CO
Perkins presents a solid argument in this regard. While Doncic has undoubtedly looked like a generational talent, the Mavs haven't been very successful this season. Having fallen out of the play-in bracket as well, the Mavs are in a bad position, to say the least.
However, this isn't the first negative opinion related to Doncic. With reports suggesting that Dallas' Doncic-centric playing style has led to this outcome, the team may want to take a closer look at their schemes.
Also Read: NBA analyst believes Dallas Mavericks’ lack of pace is source of concern for team: “They’re so reliant upon Luka & his live dribble”
Is Luka Doncic the culprit for Dallas' shortcomings?
While the question itself presents an interesting train of thought, the Dallas Mavericks have bigger problems than being dependent on Luka Doncic.
Doncic is far and away the best player on the Mavs roster. While this could be viewed as a compliment, conversely, the disparity in talent also plays a massive role in dictating the team's efficacy.
In Dallas' case, the team is forced to depend upon their superstar to dictate the flow of the game. Whether this involves playmaking or flat-out scoring, Doncic does what he is expected to do.
With no supporting superstar, Dallas additionally features a shortage of quality role players. While Spencer Dinwiddie, Christian Wood, and Tim Hardaway Jr. make for solid pieces, the Mavericks fall just short of having players who can really make a difference.
While Luka Doncic is to blame for a lot of the team's shortcomings, the Mavs haven't exactly given him the support he needs to improve their situation. With a conundrum presenting itself, the Mavs may need to make some changes soon.
Read: Charles Barkley implores Luka Doncic to change his game - “He’s got to learn to play without the ball”