When predicting major award winners before the season, ESPN did not pick Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic to win the MVP during the 2025-26 NBA season.

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Doncic, who is much slimmer down and gearing up for his first full season with the Lakers, finished second in predicted MVP voting from a panel of NBA experts.

ESPN predicted Nikola Jokić, center for the Denver Nuggets, to capture his fourth MVP award.

The MVP has eluded Doncic for a couple of seasons now, finishing in the top five of voting three times.

During the 2023-24 season, when the Dallas Mavericks made the NBA Finals, Doncic finished third in voting for the MVP.

ESPN reporter Ramona Shelburne provided further details on the voting results.

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