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Hall of Fame PG Has Bold Prediction for Lakers Superstar

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Jordan Pagkalinawan | Last updated Sep 13, 2025 8:30 AM ET

Luka Doncic has had a summer to behold between his physical transformation and his astonishing EuroBasket run. Now, one legendary point guard thinks Doncic can carry that momentum into a season to remember with the Lakers.

Hall of Fame PG Has Bold Prediction for Lakers Superstar

Tim Hardaway Sr. Picks Luka Doncic for MVP

In a Sept. 10 interview with the betting website Action Network, Hall of Famer Tim Hardaway Sr. revealed Luka Doncic as his MVP pick, a selection that he says will “surprise” many people.

“You know what? A lot of people are gonna be surprised. He actually should have probably won it one time, but I’m gonna go with Luka Doncic. I think that if he has a really, really good year. If he has a good year like he normally has and they end up in the upper echelons, 1-4 seed. Right around there. I think he has a really, really, really good chance of winning MVP.”

“He should have won it probably about two years ago. But he didn’t win it. He’s that talented. But he still gotta do other stuff.”

Hardaway Sr. also noted how Doncic’s new frame will be pivotal toward a potential MVP campaign.

“Just because you lose weight, he’s still gonna be the same Luka. This is not overseas. This is the NBA. You’re still gonna have to keep your feet in front of people. They are still gonna go at you. Just ’cause you lost weight, they don’t believe that you could play defense now. You can move your feet now. You are as agile as you should be, and this and that. You’re still 6’8, you’re still kinda slow. You still move at your own pace. But I would put Luka down as MVP this year.”

Earlier in his career, Doncic finished in the top-ten of MVP voting for five consecutive seasons, including a third-place finish in 2023-24 where he put up 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 9.8 assists in 70 games.

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Analysts Support Doncic’s Chances of Winning MVP

Next season will include the usual frontrunners gunning for MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Jokic. However, fans and analysts agree that Doncic shouldn’t be counted out. He has proven himself worthy of being in the conversation before. Plus, his recent growth—combined with his and the Lakers’ hunger for success—should set the Slovenian superstar up for an award-winning campaign.

NBA.com writer Shaun Powell believes Doncic is the “most likely” non-MVP winner to earn the trophy this coming season.

“Dončić is one of only a handful of players capable of averaging a triple-double, which by itself makes him a strong candidate. If he does that while leading the league in scoring or assists and winning 50 games? That would be hard for anyone else to beat.”

ESPN’s Summer Prediction Forecast gave Doncic the second-best chance to win MVP behind Jokic. Voters gave him 62 points behind The Joker’s 83.

Doncic’s impressive international stint has many people excited for his first full season in LA, where he’ll have a true chance to show off his improvements next to LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and the Lakers’ plethora of offseason additions. With the team handing him the keys to the franchise in the near future, 2025-26 will be a vital season for the Doncic-Lakers partnership. What better way for Doncic to capitalize on it than by delivering an MVP-caliber year?

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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