“Luka is an international figure, he’s not from here” - NBA analyst predicts Luka Doncic will reign as the MVP this season, says Memphis star player will be a close competitor for the title

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic was picked by many to be the NBA's MVP this season. One of those analysts includes ESPN's Stephen A. Smith.

It's no surprise to see Doncic receive such high praise. The 23-year-old has blossomed into a dominant force. In each of his four seasons, Doncic has been among the best in the game. Doncic was especially impressive during last year's postseason, leading the Mavericks to an upset victory over the top-seeded Phoenix Suns.

With the regular season getting underway, analysts are making picks for the NBA awards. On "First Take," Smith said that Luka Doncic is his selection for MVP. Smith also praised Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant.

"As phenomenal and great as Ja Morant is, I think it will be a close race between those two and others," Smith said. "But Luka is an international figure. He's not from here. I think that, combined with his game obviously, is going to play a huge, huge role with some of those votes that he's going to end up getting."

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Luka Doncic is potential MVP candidate

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic versus the Phoenix Suns

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic got off to a strong start to his season. He finished with 35 points, nine rebounds and six assists in a 107-105 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

Doncic has become one of the faces of the NBA. After generating attention for his talents overseas, the international star has taken over the league since being drafted third in 2018. If Doncic can continue to elevate his game, he will be remembered as one of the greatest.

The Mavericks have been desperate to surround Luka with more talent.

After acquiring veteran Spencer Dinwiddie last season, Dallas traded for offensive forward Christian Wood. The move already looks to be a perfect fit, as Wood finished with 25 points and eight rebounds against the Suns.

The Mavericks continue to be a difficult team to deal with in the postseason. A lot of that has been due to the ability of Luka Doncic, who has taken his play to another level in the playoffs. In last year's shocking playoff upset of the Phoenix Suns, Doncic was dominant. He averaged 32.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 2.1 steals per game in that series.

Doncic will be a popular choice to win his first MVP award this year. If the Mavericks can put together a strong season, he could have his eyes set on bigger accomplishments come playoff time.