In the basketball world, it is rare for an expert to announce the next season’s Most Valuable Player in advance—especially when the pick is not an American. Yet 2008 NBA champion and current ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins did exactly that: live on NBA Today, he confidently stated that this autumn the MVP trophy will travel to Slovenia with Luka Dončić.
Perkins' Authority and His Arguments
The former Boston center is known for his blunt takes, but there is calculation behind the bold statements. Perkins noted that the Dallas leader has ranked among the top five MVP candidates for several seasons in a row and that the maturity of his game is growing faster than that of most stars. According to the analyst, it is the combination of versatility and basketball IQ that will lift Dončić to the summit of individual honors.
Numbers That Confirm His Ambitions
Last regular season Dončić operated under tough conditions—injuries to teammates and the Western Conference’s fierce competition limited him to just 50 games. Even so, he remained a magnet for the ball: 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 7.7 assists and almost 2 steals in 35 minutes 22 seconds per game—elite point-guard numbers for someone who not only scores but orchestrates the entire offense.
Contenders on the Horizon
The Slovenian will face formidable opposition: Nikola Jokić with his triple-double machine, Giannis Antetokounmpo eager to return Milwaukee to the throne, and the surging Jayson Tatum. But Luka must make the pivotal leap himself—raising the Mavericks into at least the conference’s top four, because without team success the MVP seldom goes to even the brightest solo performers.
Risks and the Road to the Trophy
Health remains the key variable. Dončić must appear in at least 65 games to avoid the award’s eligibility threshold. In addition, coach Jason Kidd must manage the workload wisely, preserving his star’s energy for crunch time. If those conditions are met, Perkins’ prediction will stop sounding bold—it will become the logical outcome of the next chapter in the already legendary Slovenian guard’s career.
