As the Los Angeles Lakers continue their lead late in the season, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith has outlined a compelling case for Luka Doncic as a legitimate MVP contender.
The Stephen A. Speaking on The Smith Show, Smith pointed to Doncic's historic production during the Lakers' current eight-game winning streak, highlighting both his scoring consistency and overall impact.
"Do you know that Luka Doncic is averaging 40.9 points and 7.4 assists? Do you know what he has done in this eight-game span, which no Lakers player in history has ever done? Not Shaquille O'Neal, not Kobe Bryant, not Magic Johnson. No one... Luka has 100 points in his last two games. In each game of this eight-game winning streak, he has scored at least 30. Not so Whether he scores 50 one day and 20 the next day, no, he is consistently scoring 30-plus in every single game."
Doncic's recent performances include one of his most impressive performances of the season. In the win over the Miami Heat, he scored 60 points while adding seven rebounds, five steals and three assists while shooting efficiently from the field and beyond the arc. The outing underlined his ability to take over games while maintaining efficiency.
On the Lakers' eight-game winning streak, Doncic is averaging 40.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.4 steals per game, while shooting 50.2 percent from the field, 42.2 percent from three-point range and 78 percent from the free-throw line in 37.5 minutes per contest.
Smith also emphasized Doncic's season-long production and where he ranks among the league's top performers.
"Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers are hitting 38.5% of their three-pointers since the trade deadline. Luka leads the league in scoring with 33.4, he's third in assists. Ladies and gentlemen, he's a league MVP candidate. I'll say it again, Luka Doncic is a league MVP candidate. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaylen Brown, Victor Wembayama and Luka “Doncic tops four candidates for league MVP.”
"Luka Doncic averaged 40.9 points and 7.4 assists... What he's done in this 8-game span is something no Laker in history has ever done. Not Shaquille O'Neal, not Kobe Bryant, not Magic Johnson. No one... He's a league MVP candidate."
-Stephen A. Smith 🙌pic.twitter.com/CH6gldgfBJ
- ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 21 March 2026
Stephen A. Smith pushes Luka Doncic's MVP case despite Lakers' early inconsistency
Through 58 games this season, the 27-year-old has averaged 33.4 points, 8.4 assists, 7.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, while shooting 47.7 percent from the field, 37 percent from three-point range and 77.2 percent from the free-throw line.
Smith acknowledged that Doncic's MVP chances may be affected by the Lakers' past inconsistency, but said his current level of play is difficult to ignore.
"The possibility that he won't win it because the Lakers have played .500 basketball for 40 games this year, I get that. But what we're seeing from them is unheard of. And the guy looks slow as a snail out there. That's the thing that bothers me. Nikola Jokic can't jump over a curb for Denver and no one can stop him. Luka Doncic looks like he's moving in slow motion most of the time and No one can stop him. And when all three of them were clicking... he was insecure in front of all three of them, what are all three of them making of him?
He concluded by outlining the widespread impact of Doncic's play on the Western Conference's outlook.
"It's some special things we're looking at. And as a result, we have to look at the Western Conference a little differently and ask ourselves, can the Lakers be written off as a real threat in the Western Conference? Oklahoma City would probably say yes. San Antonio with Victor Vembanayama would probably say yes. I don't know if we can do that ... not with Luka on a roll like this."
The Lakers (45-25) will try to extend their winning streak to nine games when they visit the Orlando Magic (38-31) on Saturday at 4:00 pm PT on NBA TV.
