NBA stats: 31.0 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 9.0 apg, 1.7 spg, 47.0 FG% in 84 games

Accolades: All-NBA 1st Team, All-Star, Western Conference Finals MVP

Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic wasn’t able to participate in the most recent Olympics, as Slovenia did not qualify for the event. But he did have an incredible 2023-24 NBA season, one that saw him earn 1st Team All-NBA and All-Star honors.

He had his most successful NBA season from a team perspective, too, as Doncic led the Mavericks all the way to the 2024 NBA Finals, where Dallas ultimately fell in five games. Doncic even earned Western Conference Finals MVP after downing Minnesota in five games, with the Slovenian phenom averaging 32.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists on 43.4 percent shooting from three in the series.

We named Doncic our Playoffs MVP for 2024 even though Dallas didn’t win the championship, and how could we not? After all, Doncic led the entire 2024 playoffs in total points, rebounds, assists and even steals, firmly putting on a superhero-level performance to even get the Mavericks to the Finals.

As such, even without an Olympic or NBA Cup run to speak of, it was still a relatively easy choice to rank Doncic as the second-best player of 2024. There was no shame in Doncic and Slovenia missing the Olympics, either, as they were ultimately eliminated in the semifinal of the Olympic qualifying tournament, so close to qualification for the prestigious event, falling to Greece and Giannis Antetokounmpo 96-68. Doncic had 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the loss to Greece, though his 10 turnovers were killer for Slovenia’s chances that day.

Questions do remain on Doncic’s fitness level, and his recent calf injury that will force him to sit out a considerable stretch of 2024-25 might be attributed to that. But if Doncic does one day get his fitness to an elite place, watch out.