Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić returned to the court earlier this week after taking some much-needed rest following a heel injury he sustained against the Golden State Warriors.
The Mavericks displayed excellent ball movement and created open opportunities against the Portland Trail Blazers. Recently, a question has been raised about how much Dončić cares about personal achievements.
To qualify for the NBA MVP award, a player must play at least 65 games. While Dončić may not meet that requirement due to injuries, he remains focused on the bigger picture.
Luka Dončić prioritizes winning the NBA Finals over MVP honors
When a Slovenian reporter asked about how injuries might affect his MVP chances, Dončić calmly stated that personal awards are not his priority—his main focus is on winning a championship.
“My main focus is really a ring, so that doesn’t really matter now,” Dončić said in Slovenian.
This mindset is exactly what any team would want from its franchise player. Nikola Jokić has been dominating with the Denver Nuggets, and he also won a championship. The true greats don’t obsess over individual accolades because the Larry O’Brien trophy is the ultimate prize.
Dončić can afford to miss nine more games and still be eligible for the MVP award. However, winning MVP is extremely challenging for any player, requiring stamina, conditioning, dominance, consistency, and mental resilience. Plus, the MVP is only a regular season award, and Dončić and the Mavericks will need their best players ready for the playoffs.
Dončić led the NBA in scoring and set a new Mavericks record for most points in a season during the 2023-24 campaign. That achievement alone is impressive.
Great teams often face adversity on their way to their goals, and the Mavericks have had their share of challenges early this season. Dončić spoke about this as well.
“I think our start was not the best, but in the last few games, we’re really proving that we can play with anybody,” Dončić said.
There will be injuries, slumps, and tough stretches throughout the season, but it appears the Mavericks have already navigated some of those early challenges.
While Dončić is still a contender for the MVP, even if he doesn’t win it, it’s clear that his focus is entirely on helping bring a championship to Dallas.
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