Luka Doncic's Injury Could Cost Him NBA Award Spot

The Lakers star may miss out on All-NBA team despite leading the league in scoring.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:03pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and energy of a basketball player on the court, with the player's form fractured into overlapping planes of bright colors representing the Lakers and Thunder uniforms.Doncic's injury clouds his chances of earning All-NBA honors despite leading the league in scoring.Oklahoma City Today

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic is likely to win the NBA scoring title this season, but he might not make the All-NBA team due to a recent injury that could sideline him for several games. This is a rare occurrence, as one of the league's biggest stars could miss out on a prestigious postseason honor despite his statistical dominance.

Why it matters

Making the All-NBA team is a significant accomplishment that can impact a player's career trajectory, endorsement deals, and future contract negotiations. Doncic's potential exclusion from the team despite leading the league in scoring highlights the nuanced voting process that takes into account factors beyond just raw statistics.

The details

Doncic suffered a knee injury in a recent game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the severity of the injury could keep him out for several weeks. This comes at a crucial time in the season when All-NBA voting is taking place. While Doncic has put up impressive scoring numbers all year, missing games due to injury may hurt his chances of being selected to one of the three All-NBA teams.

  • Doncic suffered the knee injury on April 2, 2026 during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
  • All-NBA team voting typically takes place in the final weeks of the regular season.

The players

Luka Doncic

A star guard for the Los Angeles Lakers who is leading the NBA in scoring this season.

Cason Wallace

A guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder who defended Doncic in the game where he suffered his injury.

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What they’re saying

“Luka is one of the best players in the league, so it would be a shame if he missed out on the All-NBA team because of this injury. But the voters have to consider the whole body of work.”

— Tim Reynolds, Sports Writer

What’s next

The severity of Doncic's injury and the timeline for his return will be closely monitored in the coming weeks as All-NBA voting approaches. If he misses significant time, it could jeopardize his chances of making one of the three All-NBA teams.

The takeaway

Luka Doncic's potential exclusion from the All-NBA team despite leading the league in scoring underscores the nuanced nature of the voting process, which considers factors beyond just raw statistics. Injuries can play a major role in determining postseason accolades, even for the NBA's biggest stars.