Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic is universally considered to be in the NBA’s highest stratosphere. His numbers and skill level are simply rare, especially for a player who hasn’t even reached their theoretical prime. Yet, as talented as he is, teams were torn on how good he would be coming out of Real Madrid. Indeed, in an extensive one-on-one interview with Index.hr’s Saša Čobanov, former Sacramento Kings general manager Vlade Divac is still defending his decision not to draft Doncic.

As one of the most successful and recognizable European players in NBA history, Divac’s misstep hasn’t really changed how respected he is. Basketball fans around the world still want to be beguiled with stories and anecdotes. They still want to hear his opinion, particularly about European hoopers. In fact, he was asked by Čobanov whether he believes that Doncic will be the next European to win the NBA MVP Award, as they continue to change the league landscape.

“In terms of talent and game, he is on the right track,” Divac says. “Nikola Jokić takes great care of his body. I would be very happy if we see Luka with the MVP award, but he will have to take good care of his body.”

European Basketball Legend Vlade Divac Reveals Key To Luka Doncic MVP

Since being drafted, Doncic has had three top-five finishes in MVP voting. In 2023-24, he was a MVP finalist for the first time, his vote total only behind Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Among his contemporaries, he’s arguably the only player to have gained so much traction for the award by the age of 25.

Gilgeous-Alexander has earned two top-five finishes by the age of 25. Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo won two MVPs by the age of 25. Since Doncic was drafted, these are the only players who have had more than one top-five finish in MVP voting while they were 25 years old or younger. Even Jokic missed the cut, as he landed his second top-five MVP finish and first MVP trophy when he was 26 years old.

None of them got off to the start that Doncic did though. Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t garner MVP consideration until 2022-23, his fifth season in the NBA. Antetokounmpo didn’t get his first top-five finish in MVP voting until his sixth season, when he actually walked away with the award. If Doncic manages to capture the 2025 NBA MVP Award, he’ll have an even better career trajectory than Jokic.

 

Conditioning Is Key

However, as Divac notes, Doncic’s dedication to his craft may not be enough. He also needs to pride himself on his physical conditioning. This isn’t for the aesthetic appeal, but because of the practical advantages being in better shape would give him. Of course, Doncic takes advantage of his size when he wants to score inside the paint. 230 pounds, Doncic’s listed weight, is a lot to contend with. He’ll regularly outweigh opposing point guards by 40-50 pounds and shooting guards by 30-4o pounds.

Yet, his fluffy physique prevents him from being a better defender. To that point, the Slovenian shot-creator’s most glaring weakness is his defense. Teams even go so far as to target him at that end. By shedding body fat, Doncic would likely improve both his foot speed and endurance. This may not lead to him becoming a lockdown defender, but it goes a long way towards him being taken seriously at that end.

Whether or not it’s necessary for him to win an MVP award is a different matter. Jokic underwent a physical transformation early in his career. Nonetheless, when he won his first two MVPs, his lack of muscle definition was more than just a running joke. When Jokic walked away with the award, it was his because his eye-popping efficiency and puppeteer playmaking underscored his sensational scoring ability.

Doncic isn’t too dissimilar from Jokic in this sense, though Jokic’s touch is far softer. The difference is that Jokic’s teams were winning more.

In two of the three seasons that he won MVP, the Nuggets had a top-three finish in the Western Conference. For comparison, the Mavs ranked fifth in the conference. This isn’t necessarily a formula to win MVP. After all, Jokic came away with the award in 2022 despite Denver ranking sixth in the West. However, when looking for ways that Doncic can inch closer to his first MVP, the number in the win column might matter as much as any other.