The NBA’s 2025-26 season hasn’t even tipped off yet, but one thing is already clear: the Los Angeles Lakers are Luka Doncic’s team now, which puts LeBron James in a bad spot.
In the latest Kia MVP Ladder, Doncic has emerged as one of the frontrunners to claim basketball’s most prestigious individual award – and noticeably, there’s no LeBron on the list. For the first time in over two decades, the King’s name is missing from MVP chatter, and instead, all eyes are on his new co-star-turned-centerpiece.
The Slovenian All-Star, who’s entering his first full season with the Lakers, is being hailed as the best player on the roster – and arguably, the franchise’s best hope to return to championship contention.
The 26-year-old shooting superstar is coming off a dominant year with Dallas as well as Los Angeles and looks determined to make a statement in the Purple and Gold. Reports from Lakers camp states he’s in the best shape of his career, ready to light up Crypto.com Arena with his trademark mix of scoring wizardry and playmaking flair.
The MVP watchlist features familiar names like Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo, Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic, and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but Doncic’s inclusion feels different – like the start of a new Lakers era.
For years, LeBron James carried the league, and Los Angeles, on his back. Now, at 40, with a reduced workload and more time spent mentoring the next generation, he’s no longer the Lakers‘ headline act. That title belongs to Luka, who’s expected to be the team’s offensive engine and emotional leader.
It’s not LeBron’s Lakers anymore
As one analyst put it: “It’s not LeBron‘s Lakers anymore – it’s Luka’s world, and the rest of the league just has to deal with it.” If Doncic can lead the Lakers back into the West’s top tier, there’s every chance he could finally add MVP to his growing list of achievements – a trophy LeBron once made look routine in L.A.
Every season, one player rises above the rest to claim basketball’s most coveted individual honor: the Most Valuable Player Award. It’s more than just a shiny trophy – it’s a career-defining moment. Winning MVP all but guarantees a spot in the Hall of Fame, cements your name among the legends, and, let’s be honest, sets you up for a lifetime of fame and fortune.
There’s no official rulebook for what makes an MVP, but the formula is pretty clear. You’ve got to be one of the league’s elite – among the top scorers, rebounders, or playmakers – and do it all while carrying your team to at least 50 wins or close to it. Durability matters too: play at least 65 games, put up big numbers, and be the kind of player who fills arenas and boosts TV ratings.
