Luka Doncic Ranks Highly on MVP Ladder Despite Dallas Mavs' Struggles

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic comes in at a tie for third with Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in this week's NBA MVP Ladder behind 76ers' Joel Embiid and Nuggets' Nikola Jokic.

Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic came in at No. 3 on this week's NBA MVP ladder, a spot below where he was last week. Given that his team is 3-6 in its last nine games, a one-spot drop actually doesn't seem so bad, but that also shows just how amazing Doncic's numbers have been.

Despite dropping a 41-point near-triple-double in Tuesday's win over the Houston Rockets followed up by a history-making 36-15-18 game in Saturday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Doncic relinquished his runner-up position on the MVP ladder to Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid after the star center and his team walloped the Los Angeles Lakers Monday night.

Doncic is averaging 31.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game this season, and with Saturday's performance, he tied Lakers legend Magic Johnson for second-most triple-doubles (59) by a player younger than 25 years old (89, Oscar Robertson). He also tied Boston Celtics Legend Larry Bird for ninth on the league's all-time triple-double list.

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic comes in at a tie for third with Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in this week's NBA MVP Ladder behind 76ers' Joel Embiid and Nuggets' Nikola Jokic / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

With the birth of his child on Friday, Doncic has had many notable events happen over the span of the last seven days.

“First of all, it was the happiest day of my life, about the baby, but then today’s game was a big rollercoaster too," said Doncic following Saturday's near-miracle comeback. "I’m so sad we didn’t win this game, but we gave a big effort. This team today was impressive in the 3rd and 4th quarter. We just got to play like this more times and we’re going to win a lot of games.”

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This week, Doncic will have up to two opportunities to reclaim the second spot on the MVP ladder ... or perhaps even challenge Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic for the top spot ... at home versus the Utah Jazz and on the road at the Portland Trail Blazers.

The depleted Jazz with give the four-time All-NBA First Teamer a chance to have a big game, whereas the Trail Blazers' Jerami Grant could give Doncic more resistance on the perimeter. The last time Grant played against the Mavs' star, Doncic only scored 15 points in a Mavericks loss.