The NBA officially announced on Thursday (Dec. 18) the All-Team selection for the third edition of the NBA Cup, and one name stood out for a very specific reason:
👉 Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers
Despite the Lakers being eliminated in the quarterfinals, Dončić’s individual impact throughout the tournament was too strong to ignore.
🏀 NBA Cup All-Team Breakdown
The 2025 NBA Cup champion New York Knicks dominated the selection, placing two players on the All-Team:
- Jalen Brunson — Tournament MVP
- Karl-Anthony Towns
The remaining spots went to:
- De’Aaron Fox (San Antonio Spurs) — runner-up
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) — semifinalist
And rounding out the group:
- Luka Dončić — the only player eliminated before the semifinals
🔥 Why Luka’s Selection Is So Impressive
The Lakers were knocked out by the San Antonio Spurs in the first knockout round, yet Luka’s performance across the tournament was overwhelming.
His presence was instrumental in helping the Lakers:
- Finish first in Group B of the Western Conference
- Remain competitive despite roster inconsistency
Being the only All-Team player eliminated before the semis only highlights how dominant Dončić was on an individual level.
📊 Luka Dončić’s NBA Cup Averages
The Lakers played five games in the NBA Cup — four in the group stage and one quarterfinal.
Luka appeared in all five, posting absurd numbers:
- 36.2 points per game
- 7.6 rebounds per game
- 10.0 assists per game
With the exception of the loss to the Spurs, Dončić recorded a double-double in every game, and narrowly missed a triple-double against the Los Angeles Clippers, falling just one assist short.
📈 Carryover to the Regular Season
Those numbers closely mirror Luka’s dominance in the regular season:
- League-leading 34.7 points per game
- 9.7 rebounds
- 8.8 assists
Even with those video-game statistics, Dončić currently sits third in the MVP race, trailing:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Nikola Jokić
🧠 Why Luka Isn’t Leading the MVP Race — Yet
The gap isn’t about offense.
Instead, it comes down to overall impact and defensive consistency.
Unlike Shai and Jokić, Luka:
- Shares offensive responsibility with LeBron James
- Occasionally defers to Austin Reaves
- Has acknowledged the need to improve defensively
Dončić himself has admitted that raising his defensive level is the next step toward becoming a true MVP favorite.
⚖️ The Big Picture
Even without a deep NBA Cup run, Luka Dončić proved something important:
👉 Individual dominance still matters.
Being named to the NBA Cup All-Team despite an early exit reinforces his standing as one of the league’s five most impactful players — period.
And if his defensive growth matches his offensive brilliance, both MVP talks and championship aspirations will only get louder in Los Angeles.
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