Luka Doncic defeated Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jayson Tatum to win the 2024 ESPY for Best NBA Player.
On ESPN, Luka Doncic was declared the 2024 ESPY winner for Best NBA Player. The point guard for the Mavericks finished off a fantastic season in which he led the NBA in scoring and led the team to its first NBA Finals appearance in 13 years while averaging 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 9.8 assists.
“Congratulations to Luka Doncic, who won the ESPY for Player of the Year in 2024. Luka just finished his finest season ever, leading the NBA in scoring and setting franchise records for the Mavericks in terms of points, assists, and triple-doubles. For the sixth consecutive season, Doncic was selected to the All-NBA First Team and guided the Mavs to their first NBA Finals since 2011.
Doncic had a phenomenal season, shouldering the burden for the Mavericks as they emerged as one of the NBA’s top teams. He put up remarkable stats throughout the regular season, masking the issues of a newly-assembled roster until they developed the right chemistry and advanced to the NBA Finals.
In the Playoffs, Doncic averaged 28.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 8.1 assists, despite playing through injuries for most of the postseason. His efforts propelled the Mavericks to the Finals, but they ultimately fell to the Celtics as his teammates’ offensive contributions waned.
Luka edged out Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and Jayson Tatum for the award. Jokic, the league MVP, faced a tough second-round exit against a team that Doncic’s Mavericks would defeat in the following series. Shai and his team were eliminated in six games by the Mavericks, with Gilgeous-Alexander arguably being the best player in that series due to Luka’s struggles with injuries.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics to a five-game victory over the Mavericks in the Finals, but he didn’t earn Finals MVP. Despite Tatum’s excellent season, his failure to be the Celtics’ standout player diminishes his case compared to what Doncic does for the Mavericks.
The Mavericks made a significant addition this summer by acquiring Klay Thompson. Doncic has never played with a shooter of Klay’s caliber, and as the NBA’s best at creating 3-point opportunities for teammates, Luka is thrilled to have Klay as a perimeter option.
“Luka, even before he joined the NBA, you’d watch his Euroleague highlights and think, ‘This 18-year-old is doing this to NBA players?’ He texted me expressing his excitement, and I shared the sentiment. There’s a mutual respect… He’s someone who isn’t afraid of the moment and competes until the end. I think we’ll bring out the best in each other.”
Klay, who averaged 17.9 points last season, aims to boost his performance in Dallas. Doncic will also look to enhance his game next season.
Improving on his averages of 34-10-9 is a tough task, but fans expect Luka to find additional value in the finer details of his performance. Even if his production decreases, it would be a significant improvement if he became more engaged defensively.
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