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Former NBA center Boban Marjanovic, a veteran of the league, believes that the race for the MVP award in 2026 will predominantly be contested between his former teammate Luka Doncic and fellow Serbian standout Nikola Jokic.
“It’ll boil down to Luka and Jokic. One of them will undoubtedly take home the MVP,” Marjanovic stated in an interview with Yahoo Sports.
Having played alongside Luka on the Mavericks from 2019 to 2022, Marjanovic expressed that he is not surprised by Luka’s current physical transformation.
“There’s no questioning that Luka is exceptional,” Marjanovic remarked. “He’s incredibly dedicated. He thrives on hard work, constantly training and competing. This determination is what he strives for—the best version of himself. He’s already among the elite. All the efforts he’s investing now are indicative of that.”
“I rank him among the best in the world, and it’s not just because of our friendship,” Marjanovic continued. “He truly deserves that recognition. I’ve witnessed the extent of his dedication and hard work over the summer and throughout all the years we’ve known each other. He earns my utmost respect.”
When asked if his trade from the Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers served as additional motivation for Doncic to intensify his summer workouts, Marjanovic explained that this drive is inherent to the Slovenian superstar.
“Perhaps yes, perhaps no. It’s hard to speculate on what might have influenced him,” Marjanovic responded. “What I do know is his mental resilience and work ethic. You can see it every summer when he plays for his national team, even after a demanding NBA season. He’s committed to basketball—it’s the first love for many of us. You can see the passion in his eyes and his mindset. He’s focused on achieving his aspirations both with his national team and the Lakers.”
