Why the Mavericks’ Luka Doncic is ineligible for All-NBA MVP this season

Luka Doncic will not be in the Dallas Mavericks lineup for Sunday afternoon’s game against the Denver Nuggets, which is no surprise since he is sidelined for at least the next two weeks with a left calf strain.

It is Doncic’s 17th missed game of the season, ending his streak of five straight All-NBA first-team appearances and making him ineligible for the MVP award.

Doncic joins a growing list of stars who will not meet the NBA’s 65-game award requirement, including Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid, Zion Williamson, Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren.

“I think it’s just the nature of the way the rules are set up right now,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “If you have a serious injury it can mean the end, but we know he is one of the best players. He’s always mentioned as an MVP candidate.”

Doncic averaged 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game before his rising momentum came to an abrupt halt on Christmas Day against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He left the arena on crutches and underwent an MRI the next day, which revealed a left calf strain.

He will be re-evaluated towards the end of January, but the injury has already caused him to miss eight games and counting. Doncic’s 2024-25 season was marred by injuries. He was sidelined five games because of a right wrist sprain, two games because of a left heel bruise, and one game because of a knee bruise. He also missed the entire training camp and preseason due to a bruised left calf.

The Mavericks currently have four home games, including two straight wins, and Doncic has been in every game. He was unable to walk under his own power during the visit of the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 3rd. He was limited to a scooter but didn’t have it in the last two games against the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers on Jan. 7 and Jan. 9.

Doncic returned to the court Saturday for an individual spot shooting session with Mavericks assistant Marko Milic. He didn’t rise and could only shoot flat-footed, but his progress encourages Kidd.

“It’s great to see him doing the spot shoot,” he said. “He worked extremely hard on the floor and then off the floor.”

Dallas is 9-7 this season in games Doncic has missed. The Mavericks play the Nuggets twice, Oklahoma City twice and Minnesota, and their first NBA Finals return game against the Boston Celtics is scheduled for Jan. 27, the current date of his reevaluation.

In the absence of Doncic and Kyrie Irving, several players had to step up, including Quentin Grimes, PJ Washington Jr. and Spencer Dinwiddie.

Jaden Hardy’s recent offensive attack has provided the Mavericks with a key impact off the bench. Since December 28th, he leads the NBA with 3 percentage points (55.6%).

“You never want to see guys go down with an injury, but in this league it’s about the next man up,” Hardy said. “I just try to take advantage of the opportunities that come my way. I just try to be a good teammate whenever I’m out there. Just bring energy and I feel like that alone can change a game. That’s what it’s all about for me, just coming in and trying to make an impact and play the right way.”

Although Doncic did not receive any NBA honors this season, he remains eligible to sign a supermax extension with the Mavericks in the offseason as he earned All-NBA honors in 2023 and 2024.

The Mavericks are currently in fifth place in the Western Conference with two important matchups against the fourth-place Nuggets on Sunday and Tuesday. The two-game series has an impact on the seedings. Dallas can win the two-win season series 3-1, split the one-win-one season series and lose the two-loss season series to Denver.

Doncic won’t be available for both games, but the Mavericks hope they won’t have to be without their franchise centerpiece for much longer.

“We’re hoping that sooner or later he gets healthy and we can get him back on the floor,” Kidd said.

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