Luka Doncic (Image Credits: Imagn)

NBA Insider Snubs Luka Doncic From Top 4 MVP Candidates Over One Major Concern

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Afshan Khan | Last updated Mar 29, 2026 5:23 PM ET

Last week, Luka Doncic’s swift rise to the second spot in the NBA MVP ladder had fans buzzing, especially after his dominating performances last month. But just when it seemed like the 27-year-old was a lock for MVP discussions, the latest rankings dropped him to fourth, leaving many in disbelief.

Austin Reaves has called out MVP voters for overlooking Doncic’s standout play, sparking conversations across the league. The debate recently heated up further when Chris Mannix snubbed the Slovenian standout from his Top 4 MVP candidates, stating his defense as “one of the worst in the league.”

“I’ve got Luca Dončić 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 can’t get past the defensive numbers for Luca Dončić,” Mannix said during the 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 worst defensive players in the league,” Mannix added.

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 Luca Dončić 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 praised Doncic as the best offensive player and weapon in the game, he believes his defense is lacking. He’s thrown his hat in with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokić, and Jaylen Brown as his Top 4 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, with jaw-dropping performances of 60, 50, and three games with 40 points just this past March. Despite his incredible offensive prowess, critics have highlighted his defense as a weak spot.

It seems the Slovenian superstars invest so much energy into their scoring that defense sometimes takes a backseat. However, former NBA standout Chandler Parsons has come to Doncic’s support, challenging the narrative that he lacks the defensive skills to be a true MVP contender.

“Luka Doncic & Nikola Jokic are the worst defenders in the race. But Jokic was as well when he won the MVP three times,” Parsons said during the 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

So, does Doncic truly deserve the top spot in the MVP race? Could this season be the one that finally brings home his first MVP award? Only time will reveal the answer. In the meantime, the six-time NBA All-Star is leading the Lakers to impressive success, winning 14 out of the last 16 games.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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