On Thursday, Luka Doncic was awarded the 2024 ESPY for NBA Player of the Year, an accolade determined by fan votes.
The prestigious ESPYs, presented annually by ESPN since 1993, recognized Doncic over other elite nominees including Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jayson Tatum. Notably, Jokic had previously secured the 2024 NBA MVP award in May, with Doncic finishing third in the MVP race.
Doncic’s ESPY win follows an extraordinary NBA season, marking the pinnacle of his career thus far. He led the league with an impressive average of 33.9 points per game, steering the Dallas Mavericks to their first NBA Finals appearance since their 2011 championship victory.
Doncic’s leadership was instrumental as the Mavericks overcame higher-seeded teams in each playoff round. Their playoff journey peaked with a dominant five-game series win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, highlighted by Doncic’s game-winning shot in Game 2. His performance earned him the Western Conference Finals MVP title. Despite their remarkable run, the Mavericks fell to the Boston Celtics in a five-game NBA Finals series.
Throughout the season, Doncic achieved several personal milestones. He scored a career-high 73 points in a game against the Atlanta Hawks, the fourth highest in NBA history. Additionally, he started in another All-Star game, received his fifth consecutive All-NBA First Team honor, and recorded a career-best 21 triple-doubles.
As his NBA season concluded, Doncic also competed internationally, although Slovenia was defeated by Greece in an Olympic qualifying match. Looking ahead, Doncic will have a three-month break before the next NBA season begins in late October.
During this time, he’ll prepare to team up with Klay Thompson, a four-time NBA champion recently signed by the Mavericks, aiming to keep Dallas in championship contention.
