Luka Dončić enters as the odds-on MVP favorite at FanDuel, and while my own rankings differ from aggregate betting lines in many cases, this is not one of them.

Multiple forces are coalescing into hallmark momentum for the 25-year-old. His numbers will never be an issue. He’s going to average 30-plus points and eight-plus assists per game and just generally make opposing defenses swoon.

Coming off a Finals appearance has also upended meaningful chunks of skepticism. It lends credit to his heliocentric approach, his ability to coexist with another star (Kyrie Irving), and his capacity to work within a top-tier defense, even if he’s not a primary factor driving that success.

Cake in the Dallas Mavericks’ ascent into bona fide contender territory, and Dončić will benefit from a variety of slants, including the “Best player on a title threat” and “It’s his turn, frankly” angles.

Resting on those arguments still sells Luka’s MVP stock short. This is someone whose play style has been portrayed as grating and intractable. Dispelling those notions is just as big of a deal.

Yes, Dončić will dominate the ball. He’s Luka Dončić. It would be foolish to reinvent his usage. But he showed last season that he can play faster. Dallas got out in transition waaaay more last season and did so even more often with Luka on the court for just the second time in his career.

We already had enough evidence of his dominance and importance to the Mavs. Now, though, Dončić’s indispensability is even more standout—a transcendence that no longer solely exists on his own terms but, inarguably, persists inside variable and larger team constructs.