Despite the Dallas Mavericks making the 2024 NBA Finals last season for the third time in franchise history and proving everyone wrong, there was one thing that happened last season that frustrated Mavs fans.
Luka Doncic was not named the MVP.
Despite having a clear case for the award, Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander both finished in front of him, and the time is now for Doncic to win his first MVP. Doncic could care less about individual accolades, as he is dialed in on winning the Finals, but this season is going to be Doncic’s best shot at winning the MVP due to a big change from the Mavs.
Mavericks’ new supporting cast gives Luka Doncic an excellent shot at winning MVP
This offseason, the Mavs became better across the board, and Doncic will be blessed with the best supporting cast he’s ever had. Dallas added Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Quentin Grimes, and things are going to be much easier for him next season.
Dallas’ shooting got exceedingly better, specifically with the addition of Thompson, and this duo is going to wreak havoc on the rest of the league. Thompson is one of the best off-ball movers in the NBA, and Doncic will always be looking to rifle him a pass for an open three.
Despite Dinwiddie being an underrated pickup, he is going to help Doncic tremendously as well. Dinwiddie can play on or off the ball, and he already built great chemistry with Doncic during his first stint in Dallas. He can spot up as a shooter or bring the ball up the floor when Doncic needs a breather, and this is going to make the game much easier for him.
Marshall and Grimes are both known as 3-and-D players, and their ability to knock down open shots while locking down on the other end is going to be a great fit next to Doncic. He always helps elevate these types of players, and they typically thrive in Dallas’ offense because of the open looks he constantly creates.
Although Doncic’s stats may slightly decline from last season due to Dallas’ new additions, the team’s success is poised to go way up. The Mavs won 50 games last season, and if they would have had Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington for the whole season, they would have arguably won 60 games.
Dallas was one of the hottest teams in the NBA after the trade deadline, and with these new additions, they’ll be battling for a top seed in the Western Conference. Team success has become important in the MVP race, and Doncic and the Mavs have the potential to have another historic season.
Dallas’ hopeful better team success should help Doncic’s case for MVP, and this new-and-improved supporting cast is going to have him under the spotlight all season long.
