Mavs Ex Coach Rick Carlisle Predicts Luka Doncic to Win MVP; Full Odds

Former Mavs coach Rick Carlisle made an MVP prediction for Luka Doncic. What are the odds of it transpiring?

DALLAS — Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic has been a common pre-season MVP pick for many over the past few years. His former head coach, Rick Carlisle, predicted Doncic to win it during the 2023-24 season during an interview with DallasBasketball.com. 

"I think Luka's going to be the MVP this year," Carlisle told us in an exclusive 1-on-1 interview, adding "I think he and Kyrie (Irving) are going to play great."

Doncic is coming off a season that commanded him a fourth consecutive All-NBA First-Team selection, averaging 32.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists in 66 games. The Mavs' 38-44 record ultimately prevented him from being a more viable MVP candidate. 

According to BetOnline.ag, the current favorite to win the 2024 NBA MVP is Nikola Jokic (+400), who already has won the award twice in his career. Doncic comes in second with +550 odds, with Giannis Antetokounmpo (+600), Joel Embiid (+700), and Jayson Tatum (+800) ranked next on the list. 

In the past, Doncic stated that he's focused on winning a championship as opposed to chasing an MVP. 

“I’d rather have the championship than MVP,” Doncic told New York Times’s Jonathan Abrams. “But if you win an MVP, it’s amazing, too."

The production that Doncic provides would be very difficult to deny an MVP if he led a team to a top three record in the Western Conference. With the Mavs making upgrades to the supporting cast around him, perhaps they will fare much better. 

The Mavs' primary pitfalls in 2022-23 were defense and rebound as they ranked 25th in defensive rating and 30th in total rebounding percentage. Dallas now has more size on the perimeter with Grant Williams and Olivier-Maxence Prosper, while having a high potential rim protector and play finisher developing at the five in Dereck Lively II.

Another factor to consider, the Mavs will have a full training camp to build chemistry with Doncic and Kyrie Irving, as opposed to adjusting on the fly following a midseason trade. The unit as a whole can build continuity and install the offense, while being better equipped defensively. 

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Grant Afseth is a Dallas Mavericks reporter for DallasBasketball.com and an NBA reporter for NBA Analysis Network. He previously covered the Indiana Pacers and NBA for CNHI's Kokomo Tribune and various NBA teams for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow him on Twitter (@grantafseth), Facebook (@grantgafseth), and YouTube (@grantafseth).

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