Rick Carlisle: Luka Dončić Will Win The 2023-24 NBA MVP Award
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle has already cast his ballot for the 2023-24 NBA MVP Award. The former Mavericks head coach thinks Luka Dončić is a lock to win the award. Are we sleeping on Luka heading into this upcoming season?
“I think Luka’s going to be the MVP this year,” Carlisle said, according to Grant Afseth of Sports Illustrated. “I think he and Kyrie (Irving) are going to play great.”
“I’m sure (Doncic is) doing all the right things for him,” Carlisle added. “He’s been on the cusp of being the best player in the world. He’s right there, and I think he’s going to be the MVP this year.”
Luka is obviously a great player and is coming off a season where he averaged a career best 32.4 points last season, as well as 8.6 rebounds and eight assists. Luka also earned All-NBA first-team honors for the fourth straight year. The problem is Dallas didn’t win any games when they traded for Kyrie last season. The Mavericks went 9-18 after the Kyrie trade. If Luka is going to win MVP, that part has to change.
The positive is that hopefully, Dallas has taken care of their defensive issues. Olivier-Maxence Prosper was taken in the first round of the draft. The Mavs also struck a trade to acquire Grant Williams. If Dallas improves on the defensive end of the floor, maybe there is a pathway to Luka winning the MVP award. We know the point totals will be there. It’s a matter of how good of a record the Mavericks will have at the end of the season.
Quick side note: I find it kinda funny that Carlisle didn’t pick Tyrese Haliburton. At least Carlisle is being honest!
