Kendrick Perkins predicts that Luka Doncic will win the MVP next season: "This is the type of commitment that I wanna see from a great player"
Kendrick Perkins has seen the Luka Doncic situation before. Great, young players often bump into adversity, but, more often than not, they emerge stronger than ever before. With this in mind, the former NBA center implores the Los Angeles Lakers faithful to see how everything plays out with the Slovenian star before worrying about the future.
"Look, this has accountability and disrespect all over it and Luka took it into the offseason," Perk said on ESPN's "NBA Today." "I know it's early for hot takes, but damn it, I'm going out on a limb early in this summertime and I'm gonna say I'm betting on Luka Doncic to win the MVP next season. This is the type of commitment that I wanna see from a great player like Luka."
Doncic was criticized last season for being out of shape. Dallas Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison reportedly alluded to his conditioning as the primary reason they traded him to the Purple and Gold.
Responding to the criticism, Luka apparently took his offseason regimen more seriously. He appeared to have slimmed down to a more ideal playing weight, showing, according to Perkins, that he has taken accountability for his actions.
Same old, same old?
Landscape's David Dennis, Jr. joined Perkins, Dave McMenamin and Jorge Sedano in the discussion. However, like the Yin to Perk's Yang, the senior writer is not convinced Luka's new-look physique would make much of a difference.
"We're supposed to be talking about this guy who needs to be an MVP-type of dude and we're celebrating the fact that he looks like he's in shape?" Dennis Jr. asked rhetorically. "The bar should be way higher than that for somebody of Luka Doncic's caliber. You have to be one of the top three players in the league for the Lakers not to be bounced in the first round."
Dennis Jr. also opened up an old wound, poking at the same issues and questions many have for Doncic.
"By the way," Dennis Jr. adds, "A lot of people who are in shape are still bad on defense. Being in shape doesn't stop you from falling asleep on back screens or being left on an island come playoff time.""This isn't something new"
Matching his fellow guest's debate show energy, a visibly irritated Perkins attempted to straighten out Dennis, Jr. by pointing to history. For the former Boston Celtics and OKC Thunder big man, everything Doncic is dealing with now is just part of the usual path for elite players.
Perkins pointed out the adjustments and adversity of past and present greats. Michael Jordan had to absorb the bumps and bruises from the Detroit Pistons, Giannis Antetokounmpo had to fill up his thin frame and Nikola Jokic had to get in shape to reach the pinnacle.
"This is nothing new. Young players that hit the ground running when they come into the league, they hit their head on the wall every now and then. Then all of a sudden, they have to bounce back," Perkins answered Dennis Jr.'s argument.
Of course, Luka hasn't been to the mountaintop yet. All talk of him having a bounce-back season and leading the Lakers to contender status remains wishful thinking.
Still, if history is any indication, players with Luka's skill and drive rarely stay down for long. The league has seen this before — stars facing scrutiny, growing pains and doubt, only to come back sharper and more determined.
Doncic may not be there yet, but his response this summer suggests he's heading in that direction.This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
28 minutes ago
- New York Post
Ex-Knick Marcus Morris Sr. arrested on fraud charges
Marcus Morris Sr. was arrested on Sunday related to fraud charges while in Broward County, Florida, online booking records showed. The NBA player and ex-Knick was picked up on a felony charge of Fraud – Writing a Check with Insufficient Funds, with the report indicating he was arrested at an airport. The online record also indicated that the charge is related to a case in another state and he is being held without bond. Advertisement Other specific information surrounding the charge was not immediately available. 4 Marcus Morris Sr.'s mugshot after being arrested on fraud charges on Sunday. This is not the first time that Morris has found himself dealing with legal issues. Morris had entered a diversion program due to a battery charge in 2012 and was found not guilty of assault charges related to a 2015 basketball brawl. Advertisement Morris has played 13 seasons in the NBA from 2011 to his last appearance in the league in 2024, with time spent playing for the Rockets, Suns, Pistons, Celtics, Knicks, Clippers, 76ers, and Cavaliers. His most recent stops in the NBA had been with the 76ers and Cavaliers during the 2023-24 season. 4 Marcus Morris Sr. of the Philadelphia 76ers in action against the Houston Rockets during the first half at Toyota Center on December 29, 2023 in Houston, Texas. Getty Images Advertisement 4 Marcus Morris #13 of the New York Knicks scored two at AT&T Center on October 23, 2019. Getty Images Morris played one year with the Knicks during the 2019-20 season, in which he appeared in 43 games, averaging 19.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He ended up being dealt to the Clippers at the trade deadline that season in a deal that involved Moe Harkless coming to the Knicks. Morris did end up briefly back with the Knicks last season when he signed a training camp deal on Sept. 15, only to be released less than two weeks later. Advertisement 4 Marcus Morris Sr. #8 of the LA Clippers in the second half at Arena on November 27, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images Morris had begun appearing on ESPN's 'First Take' earlier this year. Morris had been a former first-round draft pick when he was selected in 2011. That year, the Rockets used the 14th overall pick to take Morris.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Nikola Jokić cries tears of joy, takes champagne shower after his horse wins race in Serbia
Much was made about Nikola Jokić's stoic reaction to winning the 2023 NBA championship. This is not that. Jokić, whose love of his horses is well-documented, watched one of them win a race in his home country of Serbia on Sunday. Arena Sport TV documented the action and Jokić's reaction in a video that the Denver Nuggets shared Sunday afternoon. Jokić let the emotions fly. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] After his horse crossed the finish line, Jokić put his head in his hands in tears. He then hopped a fence to access the track, still in tears as he approached his horse and his jockey with his arms wide open. He then shared a hug with the jockey and gave his horse a pat on the back. The tears kept flowing as he walked with his team to the celebration circle. There, Jokić was in charge of the magnum bottle of champagne. He popped the cork, then sprayed down his team, horse included. He then proceeded to pour champagne on the heads of his team members while saving the final champagne shower for himself. It was a display of unbridled joy. Cue up Jokić's stoic reaction in the immediate aftermath of leading the Nuggets to the NBA championship in 2023: "It's good," Jokić told ESPN when asked how it feels to win his first championship. "The job is done. We can go home now." This reaction resulted in jokes about how much Jokić does or doesn't care about basketball. Which were, of course, silly. Jokić has been the best basketball player in the world for several years running. He's a three-time MVP and a two-time Olympic medalist in addition to being an NBA champion. Of course he cares about about basketball. A lot. One doesn't reach his level without caring. And he did let his guard down in the ensuing celebrations in the Nuggets locker room ... : ... and again during Denver's championship parade: But it's fair to say that Jokić's love for his horses and their racing success holds an unparalleled place in his heart. Nothing — at least in public — seems to come close.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Watch: Chet Holmgren posts offseason workout video
As the summer temperature rises, the NBA calendar slows down. Almost August, we've reached the driest part of the year. The league has gone on vacation. All the major offseason moves have been made, with most front offices happy with how their rosters look. The Oklahoma City Thunder continue to enjoy their NBA championship. Most of the partying has happened over the past month. With training camp two months away, they hope impressive continuity helps their chances of being a rare repeat winner next season. If Chet Holmgren can return to his pre-injury form, that'll be a huge plus. He was on his way to a likely first-time All-Star bid before he suffered a Nov. 2024 hip fracture that cost him three months. The 23-year-old figured out how to drive to the basket and create his offense. Pair that with special rim protection, and you have one of the best young centers. While Holmgren helped the Thunder win the Larry O'Brien trophy with great individual defense, you couldn't help but notice how much his scoring production dipped. His efficiency sank below the floor for a center. He couldn't buy an outside bucket. Now, with an offseason removed from his hip fracture, the Thunder hope Holmgren can return to the star trajectory he was on. The seven-footer posted on social media some of his offseason workouts. In the quick video, you can see him work on his handle and finish through contact. While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams received all the flowers for being 20-plus point scorers, Holmgren is not too far behind. Only injuries have limited his ascension. If he can have a healthy fourth season, he can show why those who doubted his contract extension were foolish to do so.
