MIAMI – Since it has become apparent that the national media isn’t showing Luka Dončić much love in regard to constantly
mentioning him as a serious candidate to win this year’s NBA Most Valuable Player award, the Dallas Mavericks decided to take matters into their own hands.
Every member of the Mavs – and even some of the team’s support staff – were seen on Wednesday wearing T-shirts that read: Pravi MVP, which means the real MVP. Basically, it’s a campaign to honor Dončić and bring attention to the fact that he should be talked about as being a serious candidate to capture this season’s MVP award.
Mavs guard Kyrie Irving said the T-shirts, which the Mavs were wearing during pre-game warmups at Wednesday’s game against the Miami Heat, was “a statement’ they stand by.
“We all knew how special this season was going to be,” Irving said. “We knew how special this year was going to be just based on our practices, what Luka was doing, showcasing that all the time, really being more vocal, challenging his teammates, challenging me, and doing it in his own way. And I think that’s the true sign of an MVP.
“(He was) coming into the season and really initiating himself into that leadership role and doing it on both ends of the floor. His stats speak for themselves.”
Dončić leads the NBA in scoring (33.9), is second in assists (9.8), second in three-pointers made (4.1), third in triple-doubles (21), tied for seventh in steals (1.4), 16th in rebounds (9.2), and is also shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 38.4 percent from beyond the three-point arc. Plus, the Mavs have won 50 games and have captured their first divisional title since the 2020-21 season.
Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Boston’s Jayson Tatum, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo are the names usually mentioned first in the MVP conversation. In retrospect, Kidd believes Dončić is a victim of his own extraordinary talents.
“The game is too simple and too easy,” Kidd said, referring to Dončić. “He makes it look too easy, unfortunately. That’s what happens with some of the greats when you talk about (Michael Jordan) and those guys.
“You take for granted their talent. And to say (Dončić is) only 25 and he’s playing the game like no one else. When you talk about (Jokic) and Giannis, it’s a great compliment to European basketball and how dominant they are.”
European players have dominated the NBA MVP award in recent years. Antetokounmpo won the MVP trophy in 2019 and 20, Jokic took home the top prize in 21 and 22, and Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid was the MVP winner last season.
Kidd offered an unusual way for Dončić to increase his MVP profile with those media members who vote for this coveted award.
“We joke around that (Dončić) might have to do the Larry Bird game and play left-handed,” Kidd said. “But he might make that look easy, too.”
Mavs forward P.J. Washington said the first time he knew about the Pravi MVP T-shirts was when he walked into the locker room and saw them before the game against the Heat.
“We were trying to wear them during the game, but they didn’t let us,” Washington said. “But everybody was excited to have his shirt for sure.
“Credit to Luka for the season he’s had. He’s a special player and I’m just excited to be able to play with him and watch his greatness each and every night. He’s the real MVP.”
The T-shirts definitely represent strong team-bonding for the Mavs.
“I think his resume shows and I think his resume is better than anybody else’s resume,” Washington said. “I don’t feel like there’s a complete argument for anybody to have a better season than him this year.
“We’re fifth in the West right now, we’ve got 50 wins and he’s playing the best basketball he’s playing right now. So, he’s the MVP.”
The failure, on the national level, to make a strong case for Dončić as the league’s MVP is puzzling to Kidd.
“Sometimes we might look at it that we have enough European players at the top and we can’t write about another one,” Kidd said. “Yes, I’m bias, but also I’ve had the opportunity to coach Giannis, and he’s great.
“I got to see (Jokic) up close, and he’s great. But I think European basketball is at an all-time high and they all should be written about.”
Dončić won the Western Conference Player of the Month in February and March. The only other player who has won it multiple times this season is Tatum, who was the Ea
stern Conference Player of the Month in November and February.
Is that a prelude to anything? No one knows for sure.
“He’s held the team up when I wasn’t able to be in the lineup when I was injured,” Irving said of Dončić. “So, there are a lot of factors that attribute to his MVP case. And me as a brother of his, I have the utmost love and support to give him during this time, because I want to see him win the MVP.
“If it’s not going to be this year, it’s going to be in the eventual future and in the near future. He’s mastered different nuances of the game and he’s continuing to explore his abilities and his talents, and it’s beautiful to be a part of.”
As for the T-shirts, Irving was all smiles when discussing their impact and the grassroots campaign to help Dončić become the second Maverick to win the league’s MVP, which Dirk Nowitzki captured in 2007.
“The shirts mean a lot
to us to represent (Dončić), but I think the most important thing he wants to do is win, and he’s always put that first,” Irving said. “He has a huge responsibility on this team every night, and he knows it.
“And it’s our job as brothers to make sure that we alleviate him of some of those responsibilities and make sure he knows we have his back. And we know how special he is.”
Kidd pointed out something that often is talked about in the pro sports world when it comes to doling out individual awards.
“Sometimes it’s a waiting period, too,” he said. “Sometimes you just have to wait and be patient for that award.
“But what I love about Luka is it’s about winning. It’s about winning a championship, playing the game the right way and being consistent.”
And this year, the Mavs are hoping the consistency by Dončić will lead to him becoming this season’s real MVP.
X: @DwainPrice
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