Charles Barkley Omits Luka Doncic From MVP List

The NBA analyst excluded the Lakers star from his top three picks for the league's most valuable player award.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Basketball

Charles Barkley Omits Luka Doncic From MVP List

Live Poll

Should the NBA MVP award prioritize individual statistics over a player's team success?

Charles Barkley recently named his top NBA MVP candidates, omitting Lakers guard Luka Doncic from his initial selection. Barkley instead pointed to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and Anthony Edwards as his top three choices.

Why it matters

Barkley emphasized that MVP honors should be tied to high team standing rather than individual performance alone. He expressed skepticism that the Lakers can climb higher than the fourth seed in the Western Conference this season.

Luka Doncic currently leads the NBA with 36.0 points per game, building upon his 33.5 average from the previous season. The Lakers star finished fourth in MVP voting last year.

The players

Charles Barkley

He is a former NBA MVP and current television analyst known for his outspoken takes on league trends.

Luka Doncic

He is a star guard for the Los Angeles Lakers who led the league in scoring during the previous campaign.

Ernie Johnson

He is a veteran sports broadcaster who serves as the primary host for the network show The Steam Room.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

He is a high-performing NBA guard cited by Barkley as a primary contender for the season's MVP award.

Nikola Jokic

He is a multi-time NBA MVP who was identified as a top candidate by Barkley for the 2026-27 season.

The details

Barkley shared his assessment during an appearance on The Steam Room after host Ernie Johnson asked for his top picks. The former MVP maintained that team success is a non-negotiable metric for the individual award.

Luka Doncic is leading the league in scoring during the 2026-27 season.
Charles Barkley discussed his MVP candidates on October 30, 2026.

Season Trajectory

Barkley's criteria underscores the historical tension in the NBA MVP voting process, which often weighs individual scoring against team success. This perspective could impact the narrative surrounding the Lakers' seeding race in a competitive Western Conference.

Fantasy managers should note that Doncic is scoring at a career-high rate of 36.0 points per game, signaling his continued role as a focal point of his team's offense. His exclusion from early MVP projections may also influence the betting markets as the Western Conference race tightens.

The takeaway

The ongoing MVP debate serves as a reminder that statistical leaders do not always hold the favorite position for end-of-season awards. Fans should monitor the team standing of stars like Doncic, as winning percentage often remains a primary factor for league voters.