The league announced the final three finalists for its major honors: MVP contenders Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander; and Clutch Player of the Year finalists Jamal Murray, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony Edwards.
Doncic’s case for MVP and Clutch was built on a standout statistical season and his central role for the Lakers, who secured the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. He averaged 33.5 points per game on 47.6% shooting, 36.6% from three, along with 8.3 assists, 7.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game.
Lakers games in clutch situations underscored his impact, with the team finishing 22-8 in clutch contests to post the league’s best 73.3% win rate in those games, and Doncic logged the highest usage at 38.5% when on the floor.
The NBA ruled Doncic eligible for the 2025-26 awards despite the 64-game total, citing extraordinary circumstances after he missed two games for the birth of his second child. Even with top-five votes in consideration, he did not land in the top three for MVP or Clutch.
Voters ultimately tabbed Jokic, Wembanyama and Gilgeous-Alexander as MVP finalists, while Murray, Gilgeous-Alexander and Edwards were named Clutch finalists. Doncic’s absence from those lists marks a notable omission for a season in which he led the league in scoring.
If healthy, Doncic could return in Los Angeles’ first-round series against the Houston Rockets, with the Lakers having taken Game 1, 107-98. His return would add a critical element to a playoff run that already featured a strong regular season and a high-usage, clutch-focused offense.
