Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic risks becoming the first NBA scoring champion in nearly five decades to miss the All-NBA team. The 25-year-old guard is averaging 33.5 points per game but has appeared in only 64 contests; league rules require at least 65 games for award consideration.
If Doncic fails to log one more appearance before the regular season ends, he would be the first player since Bob McAdoo in 1976 to top the scoring chart without earning an All-NBA nod.
Doncic’s absence has also strained the Los Angeles Lakers, who are dealing with multiple backcourt issues. Guard Marcus Smart is nearing a return from an ankle sprain, while rookie Bronny James could see increased minutes until reinforcements arrive.
“At this juncture of the season, it’s the last thing you want to see,” LeBron James said after a recent Lakers-Thunder matchup. “When you have an MVP candidate on your team, the last thing you want to see is somebody go down with a hamstring injury. So, pray for the best, for sure, and a speedy recovery.”
Doncic leads second-place scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander by a comfortable margin, making his potential exclusion from All-NBA both rare and historically significant.
Source: Hoops Wire
