THE TAKE
I am the loudest voice that Luka is not the defensive liability that people think he is once he gets to the playoffs. He cares differently, he plays differently. He does not play that way in January, I'm sorry. And it is a full-season award, and it is for both sides of the ball. So, am I going to vote him my No. 1 for MVP? No. Is he going to be on my ballot? Absolutely.
BOLDNESS
50/100
GRADE
10/100
PLAYERS / TEAMS
Luka Doncic
GRADING CRITERIA
Take is TRUE if Luka Doncic posts measurably improved defensive metrics in the 2026 playoffs compared to his 2025-26 regular season (e.g., lower opponent field goal percentage when he is the primary defender, improved defensive box plus/minus, or reduced on-off defensive rating differential), AND the speaker follows through by including Doncic on their MVP ballot.
contrarianvagueunfalsifiable
OUTCOME
CONFIRMED FALSEThe core defensive-improvement-in-playoffs claim is entirely moot because Luka Doncic suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain on April 2 and did not play a single minute in the 2026 playoffs, missing the Lakers' entire postseason run before they were swept by the Thunder in the second round. On the MVP ballot prong, Nichols did say on air that Doncic 'is going to be on my ballot' and later defended herself saying she ranked him higher than most peers, but the official 2026 MVP ballot released by the NBA shows the only players receiving votes were Gilgeous-Alexander (83 first-place votes), Jokic, Wembanyama, and Cunningham — Doncic received no ballot votes at all, meaning he was not a finalist and Nichols' stated intention to include him could not be confirmed.