Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic earned his sixth first-team All-NBA nod on Sunday, and every player who has made at least six is still active or in the Hall of Fame. Basketball-Reference gave Doncic a 68.3 percent chance to make the Hall before his latest honor. Now, it feels like a lock. Doncic and Nikola Jokic became the 22nd and 23 players to earn at least six first-team All-NBA honors. The group includes six active players and 17 Hall of Famers.
Luka had to win an appeal to be eligible for awards after only playing 64 games. He missed two for the birth of his daughter, so the NBA allowed it. Doncic finished fourth in MVP voting and made first-team All-NBA, which further underscores the problems with the league's 65-game rule.
The 27-year-old is already a legend. Luka became the 55th player to be selected All-NBA six times. He has always been on the first team. Doncic is an elite company already and is just entering his prime. That makes him all but guaranteed to be in the Hall of Fame after his retirement.
Luka Doncic all but cements Hall of Fame case with 6th first-team All-NBA honor
Nobody is shocked. Doncic led the league in scoring, field goals made, and 3-pointers made this season. He was just getting into the MVP race when he suffered a season-ending hamstring injury. Fans were worried his 64 games would prevent him from earning this historic honor, but the NBA did the right thing. Luka was one of the top four players this season, and he deserved to be recognized for it.
Doncic is doing what the all-time greats accomplish. LeBron James picked up his sixth first-team All-NBA nod at 27 years old. Kevin Durant was 29 before he got his. Nikola Jokic just earned his at 31. Lakers fans are witnessing greatness right before their eyes. Doncic doesn’t have a championship, but it is impossible to deny him as an all-time great.
Luka has led the NBA in scoring in two of the last three years. He quarterbacked the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024 and is just waiting for that breakthrough moment. Doncic will be among the MVP favorites heading into next season, and the Lakers hope to build a true title-contending roster around him. A championship is the one thing keeping him from being a top 20 player of all time.
If Luka retired today, he would still be a Hall of Famer. Leading Slovenia to a EuroBasket championship and Olympic berth also factors in. Doncic has been one of the best players on the planet since 2020, and his sustained greatness isn’t stopping anytime soon. That alone is enough to get him into the Hall of Fame.
Luka Doncic earned his sixth first-team All-NBA honor on Sunday night, and history suggests he is a lock to enter the Hall of Fame when he hangs up his sneakers. Every player with at least six first-team nods is active or enshrined. Luka won’t be the first one to miss out.
Los Angeles Lakers fans are witnessing greatness and shouldn’t take it for granted. Luka is one of the best players on the planet and is just entering his prime. Expect a lot of wins and even more accolades in the years to come. That is what all-time greats do.
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