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Luka Dončić Finishes 4th in MVP Voting... Plus, Why Rui Hachimura Is a Complex Problem for the Lakers

Basketball

Luka Dončić Finishes 4th in MVP Voting... Plus, Why Rui Hachimura Is a Complex Problem for the Lakers

Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers›
Yesterday36:48

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Mentioned in this episode

LDLuka DončićLALos Angeles Lakers

Episode Notes

Luka Dončić finished fourth in Sunday's release of MVP voting. This was always the most likely outcome, once Luka was hurt before the end of the year, and the Lakers lost (for all intents and purposes) a real shot at the third seed in the West. But within that voting, there were some things that will almost surely stick in the craw of many Lakers fans -- namely that Luka, the leading scorer in the NBA, didn't get a single first place vote. Not one! 

A slight? An insult? We break it down. Plus, why Luka's season was (aside from that injury) about everything the Lakers could have possibly hoped for in his first full season in purple and gold. 

Meanwhile, is this going to be Rui Hachimura's last season in LA? He's noted how much he loves it here, but the Lakers are trying to thread a very tricky needle, where the improve the squad around Luka, but with limited resources. That could prompt them to bring guys like Rui back, because he played well and has a badly needed skill set in high level shooting. 

On the other, a quick signing of Hachimura, or even one coming later in the summer, presents complications as well. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 


SEGMENT 1: 4th with a bullet. 

SEGMENT 2: The Lakers have a Rui problem. 

SEGMENT 3: Why Rui represents LA's challenges this offseason. 

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"Luka Dončić Finishes 4th in MVP Voting... Plus, Why Rui Hachimura Is a Complex Problem for the Lakers" is an episode of Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers. Runtime 36 min. Published May 18, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.

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Quick FAQ

When was this episode published?
May 18, 2026.
How long is this episode?
36 min.
What podcast is this from?
Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers. Browse the full back catalog on the show page.
What does this episode cover?
Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers covers basketball. This episode runs on the show's regular cadence.

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  • Luka Dončić Finishes 4th in MVP Voting... Plus, Why Rui Hachimura Is a Complex Problem for the Lakers
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