Luka Doncic won’t be in the lineup for the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday afternoon against the Denver Nuggets, which is no surprise since he’s sidelined with a left calf strain for at least the next two weeks. It marks Doncic’s 17th missed game of the season, which ends his streak of five consecutive appearances on an All-NBA first team and makes him ineligible for the MVP award. Doncic joins a growing list of stars who will not meet the NBA’s 65-game requirement for awards, including Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid, Zion Williamson, Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren. “I think that’s just part of the nature right now with the way the rules are set up,” said Mavericks coach Jason Kidd. “When you have a severe injury, it can knock you out of that, but we know that he’s one of the best players. He’s always mentioned as an MVP candidate.”
Source: Dallas Morning News
Source: Dallas Morning News
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Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
🇸🇮🙁 Luka Doncic has been confirmed ineligible for the season awards of the NBA as he will not meet the 65 game requirement due to injuries! pic.x.com/Ebre7izjE5 – 11:08 AM
🇸🇮🙁 Luka Doncic has been confirmed ineligible for the season awards of the NBA as he will not meet the 65 game requirement due to injuries! pic.x.com/Ebre7izjE5 – 11:08 AM
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
OFFICIAL: Luka Doncic is removed from the MVP race
“We know that he’s one of the best players” – Jason Kidd
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/17… – 10:16 AM
OFFICIAL: Luka Doncic is removed from the MVP race
“We know that he’s one of the best players” – Jason Kidd
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/17… – 10:16 AM
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Sergio De Larrea delivered an impressive performance, a feat that, at his age, had previously only been achieved by Santi Abad and Luka Dončić in #LigaEndesa
eurohoops.net/en/acb/1769682… – 4:01 PM
Sergio De Larrea delivered an impressive performance, a feat that, at his age, had previously only been achieved by Santi Abad and Luka Dončić in #LigaEndesa
eurohoops.net/en/acb/1769682… – 4:01 PM
More on this storyline
Despite missing out on NBA honors this season, Doncic remains eligible to sign a supermax extension with the Mavericks in the offseason since he earned All-NBA honors in 2023 and 2024. The Mavericks are currently fifth in the Western Conference with two key matchups against the fourth-place Nuggets on Sunday and Tuesday. There are seeding implications with the two-game series. Dallas can win the season series 3-1 with two wins, split the season series with a win and a loss, and lose the season series to Denver with two losses. -via Dallas Morning News / January 12, 2025
Lively finished Thursday’s game with a 21-point, 16-rebound double-double. He added three blocks in the win. Although he had only one assist on Thursday, Lively’s passing has continued to improve during the 2024-25 campaign. After averaging just 1.1 assists per outing in 2023-24, the Mavs center is recording 2.5 assists per game this season. “A lot,” Lively said of how much pride he takes in his play-making as a center. “I’m just trying to be able to make sure everybody on my team gets an open shot. No matter if that’s Kyrie (Irving) or Luka (Doncic) on the floor, I’m going to try to get them an easy shot… Try to just get the easy possessions… I’m gonna find my teammates to get them open because that’s what they do to me.” -via Clutch Points / January 10, 2025
Dave McMenamin: Brutal loss for the Lakers in Dallas, 118-97, to complete an 0-2 road trip. No Luka Doncic, no Kyrie, no Gafford for the Mavs and LAL trailed by double digits for the bulk of the second half. -via Twitter @mcten / January 7, 2025