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Austin Reaves Questions MVP Voting After Luka Dončić’s Latest Masterclass

Austin Reaves reacts to Luka Dončić’s consistent 40-point performances, questioning MVP voting trends as the Mavericks star continues to slide in rankings

  • Surbhi Khera
  • 3 min read
Austin Reaves Questions MVP Voting After Luka Dončić’s Latest Masterclass
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Austin Reaves did not intend to make headlines, but his reaction quickly did. Speaking after another big night around the league, the Lakers guard addressed a conversation that has been quietly building.

The 25-year-old was responding to the continued output of the Dallas playmaker. Performances that would usually dominate MVP chatter are no longer carrying the same weight.

That shift has not gone unnoticed inside locker rooms. Players tend to track consistency closely, especially when it comes from someone carrying a heavy offensive role.

In this case, the reaction was immediate and direct. What followed was less about numbers, and more about how those numbers are being valued right now.

1. Reaves claims Luka Dončić’s MVP rankings are insane to him

When asked about Dončić’s offensive role, the Lakers guard shifted the focus to MVP standings. He questioned why the Dallas playmaker appears to be slipping despite consistent output. The 25-year-old was responding to the continued output of the Dallas playmaker. Performances that would usually dominate MVP chatter are no longer carrying the same weight, he implied. ‘*He continues to drop in the MVP race, which is insane to me," *said Reeves. The comment came during the postgame interview. The statement linked performance with recognition, while also pointing out the expectations placed on high-scoring players in the current race. ‘*I guess it doesn’t really matter. Maybe he’s gotta score 60, I don’t know,’ *claimed Reeves. The exchange remained brief, but has had its fair share of buzz on social media. Having brought much attention back to how individual output is being weighed this season, the discussion all over is less about numbers and more about how those numbers are being valued right now.

2. Dončić response to the MVP Talk and percieved bias

Time and again, Luka Dončić has addressed the MVP conversation from his end following recent games. The 26-year-old acknowledged the award remains a goal, but admitted uncertainty around how the race is unfolding. Speaking in Spanish, he said, ‘Yeah, hopefully, but the better I play the more I go down in ratings so I don’t know what more I can do.’ The response reflected his view on the current standings.

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The comment came during a media interaction after another strong stretch of performances. He has remained among the league’s top scorers this season. His response follows recent remarks from other players, including Austin Reaves. Both comments have come during ongoing discussions around MVP rankings.

3. Latest MVP Ladder update amid rankings debate

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The latest NBA.com MVP Ladder has seen a shift at the very top. Victor Wembanyama has moved into the No. 1 spot, overtaking Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The San Antonio Spurs forward climbed up after a strong three-game stretch. He averaged 21.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 5.7 blocks in just over 26 minutes per game during that span. Meanwhile, Luka Dončić dropped two spots to No. 4 despite his recent form. The Los Angeles Lakers guard has averaged 39.5 points over his last 11 games, leading the team to 10 wins in that run. The rest of the top five includes Nikola Jokić at No. 3 and Jaylen Brown rounding out the group. The full ladder also features names like Cade Cunningham, Kawhi Leonard, Donovan Mitchell, and Anthony Edwards within the top 10.

Written by: Surbhi Khera

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