Luka Doncic Snubbed by NBA Despite Historic Performances as Victor Wembanyama Heads the West

The NBA and Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic keep being in a one-sided love story, where he keeps the games hot by dropping big numbers almost every game night, and the league keeps giving away the honors and accolades to anyone but him. And there was no exception this time.

“San Antonio Spurs forward-center Victor Wembanyama and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum have been named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for Week 2 of the 2026-27 season (Oct. 26 – Nov. 1),” the NBA Communications announced on X on November 2, 2026.

This should sting the Lakers fans, admirers, and Doncic himself. Imagine averaging 37.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.3 assists so far this season to hail your team to a 5-2 standing, and the honor goes to a player who’s been averaging 28.0 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists, having his team at 4-2. If anything, Doncic has just had a historic night of 45 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 assists against the Toronto Raptors to secure a 131-125 Sunday night victory. He also dropped 40+ in three games (including the season's first 50+).

Now, some would again bring back the “defensive liability” argument. But those who watched him against the Raptors knew that the 27-year-old Lakers guard was doing all he could to secure a win as the Raptors kept being a constant threat.

Even if the team’s overall impact is what earns one the Players of the Week, the Lakers played 7 games and won 5, while the Spurs played 6 and won 4. And it's not like the league doesn’t capitalize on Doncic's game.

“Luka Doncic is having a HISTORICALLY good start to the season, averaging the most PPG in a season since Wilt Chamberlain in 1963,” read a recent X post by NBA on Prime. The advertisement continued, “Watch Luka and the Lakers face the Blazers in Emirates NBA Cup Group Play, Nov. 6th on @primevideo at 10 PM ET.”

But despite these sorts of minute nods of acknowledgement, what Doncic gets is:

“Other nominees for NBA Western Conference Player of the Week were Sacramento Kings guard Darius Acuff Jr., Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić and Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg,” posted on the league’s official website.

The post further claims that Wembanyama has been averaging 36.0 PPG, 10.3 RPG, and 4.3 BPG, regardless of ESPN's stat count.

And that’s still less than Doncic’s.

While inconsistent officiating is no secret, events like these also make one wonder about the parameters based on which a player is judged, measured, and valued.

Because whatever that standard for the league is, clearly Luka Doncic isn’t meeting any of those.