Draymond Green and his criticisms of Doncic and Tatum: Provocateur or visionary?

Draymond Green has shared a reflection on the future of Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum in the race for the NBA MVP. The Golden State Warriors player believes that both could find it very difficult to win the award for best player of the season because their extraordinary level has become usual and their performances no longer generate the same impact among the voters.

In his podcast, Green was particularly forceful regarding Doncic, whom he considers capable of posting extraordinary statistics without it being enough to win the award. “Luka will never win an NBA MVP. This is the last year he can achieve it,” he said.

Green's reasoning is based on the so-called voter fatigue: when a star has been dominating for years, their numbers are no longer perceived as exceptional. “Luka could average 34 points per game and people will say that it's normal, that we already know he can do it. The same goes for JT. He could average 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists, and the reaction will be that we already know he can do that,” he explained.

LeBron James, the precedent Draymond Green uses

Green also referred to the case of LeBron James, who ended his career with four regular season MVP awards, to support his argument. The Warriors forward believes that the impact of a superstar can end up being undervalued when they maintain an extraordinary level for too many years.

“You can’t tell me that LeBron should only have four MVPs,” Green pointed out, seeing parallels between the Lakers player's trajectory and that of Doncic and Tatum.

However, the very debate about the award shows that individual talent is not the only determining factor. Collective performance, win-loss record, and each team's standing also influence the evaluation of candidates. Therefore, a spectacular statistical season does not guarantee the MVP if another player leads a franchise with better results.

Looking ahead to the 2026-27 season, Green chose Jalen Brunson, star of the New York Knicks, as his candidate for the award. The point guard just won the Finals MVP and, according to the Golden State player, will have sufficient motivation to prove he deserves even more recognition.

Green's prediction is deliberately provocative, especially in the case of Doncic, who has just had seasons with extraordinary scoring figures. His message does not imply that the Slovenian or Tatum have lost level, but that they might need something more than individual statistics to convince voters.

The big question is whether Doncic and Tatum can break that supposed fatigue with a dominant season and a winning team. Because, in an NBA where the big stars are used to producing extraordinary numbers, the next step to conquering the MVP may depend as much on collective results as on the ability to surprise again.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Draymond Green y sus críticas a Doncic y Tatum: ¿Provocador o visionario?