section_path: Professional career/Real Madrid (2015–2018)/MVP season (2017–2018)
section_name: MVP season (2017–2018)
paragraph_text: MVP season (2017–2018)
  
  Dončić assumed a more significant role for Real Madrid entering the 2017–18 season after the team's star player Sergio Llull suffered a torn ACL during EuroBasket 2017. In his season debut on October 1, 2017, he recorded eight points, six rebounds, and four assists in a 94–88 victory over MoraBanc Andorra. On October 12, Dončić scored a career-high 27 points in his first EuroLeague game of the season to help defeat Anadolu Efes. Dončić nearly recorded a triple-double against Valencia in his next game, with 16 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds. On October 24, he was named EuroLeague MVP of the Round after erupting for 27 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Dončić was named MVP of the Round again two days later, eclipsing his career-best score with 28 points in an 87–66 win over Žalgiris Kaunas, also grabbing nine rebounds and four assists in the game. At the end of October, he earned EuroLeague MVP of the Month honors, becoming the youngest player to win the award. On December 8, Dončić set a career high in scoring with 33 points, six rebounds, and four assists against Olympiacos Piraeus. He led Real Madrid to a 79–77 victory over defending EuroLeague champion Fenerbahçe Doğuş on December 28, contributing 20 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds. Following a 24-point outburst versus Movistar Estudiantes on December 31, Dončić was selected as Player of the Round in the ACB. He was later named ACB Player of the Month for December, becoming the award's youngest recipient.
  
  On February 9, 2018, Dončić led his team with 27 points in a losing effort to Olympiacos, 80–79. Dončić had another strong performance on February 17 against Iberostar Tenerife in the 2018 Spanish King's Cup, posting 17 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and four steals. On March 30, 2018, Dončić scored 24 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and made a game-winning three-pointer under a second left in regulation to beat Crvena zvezda Belgrade, 82–79. On May 9, he recorded 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in 22 minutes against Real Betis Energía Plus, for the first triple-double in the ACB since the 2006–07 season, seventh in league history. Dončić finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, and two assists on May 18, in a 92–83 victory over CSKA Moscow in the EuroLeague semifinals. On May 20, he guided Real Madrid to a EuroLeague finals victory over Fenerbahçe Doğuş. Dončić was subsequently named EuroLeague Final Four MVP after scoring 15 points. He won the EuroLeague MVP award, being its youngest winner, after averaging 16 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game over 33 EuroLeague games and leading the league in PIR. Dončić also repeated as the EuroLeague Rising Star, becoming the third back-to-back winner. Not only that, but he earned the ACB Best Young Player and MVP accolades after helping his team defeat Kirolbet Baskonia in the league finals. On June 29, 2018, Dončić parted ways with Real Madrid.
  
  Dončić assumed a more significant role for Real Madrid entering the 2017–18 season after the team's star player Sergio Llull suffered a torn ACL during EuroBasket 2017. In his season debut on October 1, 2017, he recorded eight points, six rebounds, and four assists in a 94–88 victory over MoraBanc Andorra. On October 12, Dončić scored a career-high 27 points in his first EuroLeague game of the season to help defeat Anadolu Efes. Dončić nearly recorded a triple-double against Valencia in his next game, with 16 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds. On October 24, he was named EuroLeague MVP of the Round after erupting for 27 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Dončić was named MVP of the Round again two days later, eclipsing his career-best score with 28 points in an 87–66 win over Žalgiris Kaunas, also grabbing nine rebounds and four assists in the game. At the end of October, he earned EuroLeague MVP of the Month honors, becoming the youngest player to win the award. On December 8, Dončić set a career high in scoring with 33 points, six rebounds, and four assists against Olympiacos Piraeus. He led Real Madrid to a 79–77 victory over defending EuroLeague champion Fenerbahçe Doğuş on December 28, contributing 20 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds. Following a 24-point outburst versus Movistar Estudiantes on December 31, Dončić was selected as Player of the Round in the ACB. He was later named ACB Player of the Month for December, becoming the award's youngest recipient.
  
  On February 9, 2018, Dončić led his team with 27 points in a losing effort to Olympiacos, 80–79. Dončić had another strong performance on February 17 against Iberostar Tenerife in the 2018 Spanish King's Cup, posting 17 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and four steals. On March 30, 2018, Dončić scored 24 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and made a game-winning three-pointer under a second left in regulation to beat Crvena zvezda Belgrade, 82–79. On May 9, he recorded 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in 22 minutes against Real Betis Energía Plus, for the first triple-double in the ACB since the 2006–07 season, seventh in league history. Dončić finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, and two assists on May 18, in a 92–83 victory over CSKA Moscow in the EuroLeague semifinals. On May 20, he guided Real Madrid to a EuroLeague finals victory over Fenerbahçe Doğuş. Dončić was subsequently named EuroLeague Final Four MVP after scoring 15 points. He won the EuroLeague MVP award, being its youngest winner, after averaging 16 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game over 33 EuroLeague games and leading the league in PIR. Dončić also repeated as the EuroLeague Rising Star, becoming the third back-to-back winner. Not only that, but he earned the ACB Best Young Player and MVP accolades after helping his team defeat Kirolbet Baskonia in the league finals. On June 29, 2018, Dončić parted ways with Real Madrid.