The Dallas Mavericks have had an exceptional start to the season. The Mavericks have become one of the premier teams in the Western Conference, despite missing key players like Kyrie Irving for extended periods of the season. The biggest reason behind their incredible form is Luka Doncic. This season, Luka has led the Mavs to a top 3 record in a fiercely competitive Western Conference.

Doncic’s stellar performances, coupled with the Mavs’ brilliant start to the season, have led to Luka entering the MVP conversation. A 3x NBA MVP pleaded Luka’s MVP case by drawing parallels with Russell Westbrook and LeBron James.

Gilbert Arenas backs Luka to win the MVP

During a conversation on Gil’s Arena, Arenas voiced his opinion on Luka Doncic’s exceptional form this season. He said, “If he can get into the top 4, he’s MVP.” However, his co-host did have the same opinions. To further back his point, Agent Zero used LeBron and Westbrook as an example. He said, “Just him (LeBron) leaving, his team (Cavaliers) went to last…. If you’re the best team, that means you have other players that are good too. The guy (Westbrook) who’s averaging a triple-double, he don’t have no other All-Star. So, that means he has to go 120 miles an hour just to keep up.”

While Arenas has a point, Luka winning the MVP award completely depends on the Mavs’ final position in the Western Conference. So far, Doncic has delivered. He has led the Mavs to the 3rd spot in the Western Conference standings, having won 16 games and losing another 9. Luka has averaged 32.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game. He is firmly in the race for the MVP with the likes of Joel Embiid, Giannis, and Jokic.

Can Luka Doncic lead the Mavs to the playoffs?

In a very brief period, Luka has become one of the best players in the NBA. However, the Mavs had a very disappointing 2022-23 season in which they finished 11th. Nevertheless, the Mavs have pleasantly surprised many by having an incredible start this season. The Mavs have cemented themselves as one of the frontrunners for one of the six guaranteed playoff spots.

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The Mavs could even be the dark horses for the NBA title. Luka Doncic’s exceptional form, coupled with Dereck Lively’s emergence, has ignited a remarkable resurgence for the team. They would become an even more frightening team once Kyrie returns from his foot injury. However, the Mavs still aren’t a finished article as indicated by their bottom 10 defense. If the Mavs hierarchy makes the right moves before the trade deadline, then they have the potential to become a serious title contender.

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What are your thoughts on this? Do you agree with Arenas’s statement? Let us know in the comments.