Adding a one-on-one tournament to NBA All-Star Weekend has been the stuff of major intrigue for basketball fans, media, and stars alike. Luka Doncic thought there would be two players who rise to the top of that competition immediately if it were to go down.
The Los Angeles Lakers superstar joined Sean Evans for the newest episode of Hot Ones. The show host asked Doncic which two NBA stars would be the top contenders that would meet in the finals of a one-on-one competition. Luka offered two names from the opposite end of the spectrum.
"That's a tough question," Doncic responded. "So many good players, but I feel like Wemby [Victor Wembanyama] is going to be there. ... The second one, [I would] probably put Kyrie [Irving] in there. So, it'll be between those two."
Evans, intrigued by the two names Doncic came up with, thought that was a must-see matchup. The host of Hot Ones described it as a true David versus Goliath situation.
Doncic’s dream duel spans NBA’s extremes — from Irving’s finesse to Wemby’s size
The reasoning Doncic offered for picking both candidates was pretty ironclad. Much like the players themselves, it offered complete polar opposites.
Doncic thought Wembanyama would make it to the finals of a one-on-one competition due to his defensive abilities. The Lakers superstar described the San Antonio Spurs phenom as someone you can't really score against when it's just head-to-head.
Irving, on the other hand, was highlighted for the expected reasons. The wizardry performed by Kyrie with the basketball was described by Doncic as 'insane.' Earlier in the sit-down with Evans, Luka even hinted that his former Dallas Mavericks co-star tries moves in practice that fans are not privileged to seeing during the games, implying there is even more in that offensive bag than people know about.
There is naturally an elephant in the room when it comes down to his matchup. Not only is Wembanyama the best defender in the NBA, but his offensive game is certainly not lacking either. The Spurs star has a unique blend of mobility and physical dominance that has never been seen at his size.
As of today, San Antonio updated Victor Wembanyama’s listed height to 7’5” and there are reports that he’s weighing close to 245 now, meaning he’s not only gotten taller but that he’s also put on 30+ lbs since being drafted
— Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) October 7, 2025
And the work shows on the court pic.twitter.com/0YvtFX7Pto
According to the update listings with Wembanyama, he only got bigger and lengthier over the summer. That would certainly make the Spurs center a tough out in a one-on-one game.
Doncic showed some humility by not including himself in the answer. The Slovenian superstar is certainly no slouch with his own offensive skill set, and his body transformation only improved his defensive ability.
Doncic is certainly close to the top of the NBA mountain as an individual player. Perhaps the five-time All-NBA First Team member believes his game translates better to a team environment. The hypothetical one-on-one matchup offered certainly does not lack in intrigue, even without him in it.