As of now, Luka Doncic is still chasing his first NBA MVP award. Despite regularly performing at an MVP-caliber level and remaining a consistent contender, he has yet to finish higher than third in the official voting through the end of the 2024-25 season, often falling short due to his team’s overall win record. This season Doncic looked promising and has been dominant in the scoring, remaining on the top position in the league.



However, the NBA games come at a risk. Doncic has just fallen victim as he suffered a major blow following a heartbreaking injury that could derail his chase to claim his first ever MVP title.



With just five games left, the Lakers are forced to look ahead without their centerpiece. Doncic has been ruled out after suffering a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. Let’s break down if Doncic still has a chance in the race.



Will Luka Doncic's injury push him out of the MVP race?



The numbers still tell a powerful story. Doncic is averaging 33.5 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.7 rebounds across 64 games, leading the league in scoring and carrying the weight of an MVP-caliber season. But the NBA’s 65-game rule looms large. With 18 missed games now expected, he risks falling short of eligibility by a single appearance.



His agent, Bill Duffy, is already preparing a pushback. “To ensure that Luka’s incredible accomplishments this season are rightly honored and he can be considered for the league’s end-of-season awards, we intend to apply for an 'Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge' to the 65-game rule,” Duffy said in a statement to ESPN.



“His record-breaking season deserves to be noted in the history books, despite last night’s unfortunate injury and other extraordinary circumstances,” Duffy said. “We look forward to working with the NBAPA and the league office to ensure a fair outcome in this matter.”



There is precedent for debate, but little certainty in outcome. The rule is firm, and even Doncic’s absence for the birth of his child counts against the tally. Around the league, several stars have already fallen short of the threshold, making this one of the most unusual award races in recent memory.



LeBron James summed up the mood shortly after the injury, saying, “At this juncture of the season, it’s the last thing you want to see. Especially anybody on our team, but when you have an MVP candidate on your team, the last thing you want to see is somebody go down with a hamstring injury.”



Kendrick Perkins drops an assessment on the Lakers without Luka Doncic



The ripple effect goes beyond awards. It hits the Lakers where it matters most. Their push toward the playoffs had been built on momentum, winning 16 of 18 games before the loss in Oklahoma City. Without Dončić, that identity feels fragile.



Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins did not hold back. “When I look at the Lakers, they’re a second-round exit, that’s their ceiling,” Perkins said on ESPN’s First Take. “The Lakers don’t scare a soul, even on Halloween.”






He pointed to the team’s struggles against top competition and raised concerns about roster construction moving forward. “Last night showed me that, if you’re the Lakers, you cannot invest all your money into Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić as your two franchise guys going forward if you’re expecting to win a championship,” he said.



That might sound harsh, but it reflects a growing uncertainty. Doncic’s brilliance lifted expectations. His absence could hurt the franchise.