Last week, Luka Doncic’s quick rise to the second spot on the NBA MVP ladder had fans buzzing, especially following his commanding performances throughout last month. With a strong case for MVP discussions, recent rankings surprisingly dropped him to fourth, leaving many in disbelief.
Austin Reaves has openly criticized MVP voters for ignoring Doncic’s impressive play, igniting conversations throughout the league. The debate intensified when Chris Mannix excluded the Slovenian standout from his Top 4 MVP candidates, citing his defense as “one of the worst in the league.”
“I’ve got Luka Doncic in my second tier. Now, I know there’s going to be some criticism about Luka being in the second tier—he’s been outstanding offensively—I just can’t move past the defensive numbers,” Mannix shared during a recent episode of Sports Illustrated’s Open Floor NBA Show.
“Luka has an individual defensive rating this year of 115.6. That would rank 119th among the 180 players with 25-plus starts this season. So he has been, in any measurable statistic, one of the least effective defensive players in the league,” Mannix elaborated.
SI’s Chris Mannix Snubs Luka Dončić from Top 4 MVP Candidates, Calls His Defense ‘One of the Worst in the League’
“I’ve got Luka Doncic in my second tier. Now, I know there’s going to be some criticism about Luka being on the second tier—he’s been outstanding offensively—I just… pic.twitter.com/wyi4sjGH5e
— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) March 29, 2026
While Mannix acknowledged Doncic as the best offensive talent and asset in the game, he pointed out that his defensive struggles can’t be overlooked. He aligned himself with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokić, and Jaylen Brown as his top MVP choices.
Ex-NBA Player Counters Criticism That Luka Doncic Lacks The Defense Needed To Win MVP
Luka Doncic is lighting up the scoreboard like few others in the NBA, showcasing remarkable performances of 60, 50, and even three games with 40 points just last month. Despite this incredible offensive talent, critics are quick to spotlight his defense as a significant weakness.
Many believe that Doncic and fellow Slovenian stars may pour so much energy into their scoring prowess that defensive efforts can sometimes take a hit. However, former NBA player Chandler Parsons has stepped up to support Doncic, challenging the prevailing notion that he lacks the defensive aptitude to be a true MVP contender.
“Luka Doncic & Nikola Jokic are the worst defenders in the race. Yet Jokic won the MVP three times despite this,” Parsons stated during a recent episode of the Run It Back podcast.
“Luka Doncic & Nikola Jokic are the worst defenders in the race. But Jokic was as well when he won the MVP three times.” 🏆@ChandlerParsons counters Michael Wilbon’s idea that Luka doesn’t play enough defense to win MVP 🗣️@MichelleDBeadle | @boogiecousins | @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/BvcsLwUd0g
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) March 26, 2026
The big question remains: Does Doncic genuinely deserve the number one spot in the MVP race? Will this season be the one that finally sees him bringing home his first MVP award? Time will tell. Until then, the six-time NBA All-Star is leading the Mavericks toward notable success, clinching 14 victories out of the last 16 games.
