March 31 (UPI) -- J.J. Redick believes Luka Doncic should win NBA MVP honors if the Los Angeles Lakers continue their hot streak, the coach told reporters.
Redick made the comments after the Lakers beat the Washington Wizards 120-101 on Monday in Los Angeles. Doncic did not play due to the one-game ban he received for getting his 16th technical foul of the season.
"He's the engine that's driving all of our winning," Redick said at his postgame news conference. "Certainly, we have a ton of guys starring in their roles, but he's the driver."
Doncic averaged an NBA- and career-high 33.7 points per game through his first 62 starts for the Lakers this season. He also logged 8.2 assists, 7.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. Doncic leads the NBA in field goals (10.9), field goal attempts (22.9), made 3-point shots (4.0) and 3-point attempts (10.9) and free throw attempts (10.1) per game in 2025-26.
The six-time All-Star, who is averaging 5.5 more points per game than he did last season, averaged 40.7 points per game over his last nine appearances, including a 60-point effort in a March 19 win over the Miami Heat.
