Following an eventful offseason, Luka Doncic became a major talking point with the release of the NBA 2k26 video game. Doncic, of the Los Angeles Lakers, had one of the highest overall ratings in this year’s iteration of the game, yet according to Bleacher Report, his ’95 overall‘ rating was one of the most ‘insulting‘ player ratings in the game.
In B/R’s article on the top 10 most insulting ratings in NBA 2k26, Doncic’s rating was third on the list.
“It may seem silly to suggest that a player with a 95, who only has three others ahead of him, should feel remotely disrespected,” Andy Bailey wrote. “But as recently as the summer of 2024, fresh off a Finals run, serious analysts were entertaining serious arguments that Luka Dončić might be the best player in the world.”
Doncic’s 95 rating ranks fourth among all players in the game. Only Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks (96), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder (98), and Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets (98) were rated ahead of the Lakers star.
The Case For Luka Doncic’s ‘Insulting‘ Rating
Last season, on both the Lakers and Dallas Mavericks, Doncic averaged a combined 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 1.8 steals on 45% shooting in 50 regular-season games.
Due to multiple injuries, he didn’t finish with enough games played to be in contention for the NBA MVP award. Yet still, his scoring average would have been fourth in the league, and his assists average would have been seventh, and he would have been behind Jokic as the only other player to average at least 28 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists per game.
“Injuries and the most inexplicable trade in NBA history may have changed our perception of him a bit over the last 12 months and change, but he is still just 26 years old,” Bailey wrote. “Over the last six seasons, he’s averaged 30.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 3.2 threes. His production and level of play almost goes up in the postseason.”
Doncic’s 28.62 points per game average ranks third all-time, behind only Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. His 73 points against the Atlanta Hawks in early 2024 are tied for the fourth-most in a game, he has received five straight All-NBA selections, and holds multiple franchise records for the Mavericks.
Though just seven seasons into his career, Doncic has found immense levels of success. Even before joining the Lakers, he has been on a career trajectory that hasn’t been matched by even some of the best basketball players ever.
“Even if Dončić is ranked as the fourth-best player in the game, a gap of two points behind Giannis Antetokounmpo and three behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander seems excessive,” Bailey added.
Franz Wagner (86 overall) and Jalen Johnson (81 overall) were the two players ranked ahead of Doncic on B/R’s list.
Eventful First Offseason With Lakers
After the Lakers’ first-round playoff series loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Doncic made headlines over the summer for his weight loss and body transformation.
Shortly after that, he signed a three-year, $165 million extension with Los Angeles, setting himself up both for a long-term career as a Laker and a potentially historic contract in 2028.
While the team held a press conference confirming Doncic’s extension, LeBron James, who picked up his player option for next season, was a notable no-show. He gave the Slovenian a FaceTime call as his form of congratulations.
As the Lakers have verified their commitment to Doncic and building the team around him, James’ offseason and future have been under perhaps more scrutiny than his teammate. After agent Rich Paul commented on James’ future to Shams Charania of ESPN, rumors have swirled about his desire to leave the team now that Doncic is the ‘leading man.’
Regardless, Doncic has taken his first few months under contract with the Lakers in stride. After his body transformation, Los Angeles was fully on board with Doncic playing in this year’s EuroBasket tournament.
As of Monday, September 8th, Doncic has led Slovenia to the quarterfinals of the tournament, with a 42-point outing against Italy. Doncic leads the competition in scoring with 34 points per game, second in assists, and tenth in rebounds.
Back in the NBA, Doncic remains confident in the Lakers’ chances for next year, even with all the narratives and storylines surrounding the team.
“I had a taste of the Finals,” Doncic reportedly said over the summer. “I am getting back there. So let’s do whatever we can now.”
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