Luka Doncic at threat to be one of the highest-scoring players to miss the NBA Playoffs
Luka Doncic could join a list of NBA greats to average over 30 points but have the team miss the postseason.
In a season in which the Dallas Mavericks were meant to build on a trip to the Western Conference finals, Luka Doncic and his team are at threat of joining a list of all-time-greats stars don't want to be on.
As the Mavericks sit 11th in the west, with the Oklahoma City Thunder (10th) owning the tie-breaker for the final spot in the NBA's play-in tournament, Doncic's 32.9 points per game could put him on a list of players who nearly, or did, lead the league in scoring but missed the postseason.
On that list are NBA greats like Stephen Curry, Bernard King, Allen Iverson, Tiny Archibald, and Wilt Chamberlain. If the Mavericks miss out on the NBA Playoffs, those greats will step aside to add Doncic's name to their club.
Curry missed the playoffs in 2020-21, averaging 32 points per game. King averaged 32.9 points per game with no postseason glory. Iverson averaged 33 points with minimal regular-season success. Archibald averaged 34 points and missed the playoffs. Lastly, Chamberlain averaged a mind-blowing 44.8 points and managed to whiff on a postseason opportunity.
If Doncic misses the playoffs while raising his averages to over 33 points per game, it will mark the first time in 50 years a player has averaged north of 33 points while not winning enough games to make the NBA Playoffs.
Dallas has roughly six games left, and it doesn't control its fate. With the way the tie-breakers sit, Dallas only owns advantages over the Jazz, who sit two games behind Dallas in 12th, and the Lakers, who are a half-game up on Dallas in ninth.
As things stand, the Mavericks are 3-7 in the last 10 games. And Dallas dropped two must-win games over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday and Sunday that landed the team on the outside looking in regarding the play-in tournament.
If the Mavericks miss out on the postseason, Doncic will join a list of stars he doesn't necessarily want to be on.
