"Congrats to Jaylen Brown’s son" - Fans react to Luka Doncic bagging 2024 ESPY award for best NBA player

Luka Doncic placed third in the 2023-24 NBA MVP race behind winner Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “Luka Magic” has been a perennial candidate for the award but has not broken through. Many are convinced, though, that he will end up with the Michael Jordan Trophy before he hangs up his jersey.

Doncic may have lost the MVP award this year, but it was the Dallas Mavericks superstar who took his team to the NBA Finals. The Slovenian was a big reason “SGA” went out in the semifinals while Jokic was sent home by Anthony Edwards in the same round.

Luka Doncic’s performance earned him the "2024 Player of the Year ESPY Award," a recognition that fans quickly reacted to on X/Twitter:

“congrats to Jaylen Brown’s son,” one fan said.

One fan pointed out what happened in the regular season:

“But he didn’t win MVP.”

A Doncic supporter had an ecstatic reaction:

“STUNT ON THEM, LUKA!!”

Another fan disagreed with ESPN’s choice:

“But lost NBA Finals and can’t play defense.”

Basketball fans trolling Luka Doncic with Jaylen Brown is obvious. It was the Boston Celtics star who won the NBA Finals MVP in the C's dominating 4-1 series win. Brown was superb on offense but his defense on Doncic was just as impactful.

Also, the previous two ESPY winners, Nikola Jokic in 2023 and Steph Curry in 2022 were NBA Finals MVPs.

Doncic has his supporters and believers, though. For most of the 2023-24 season, playoffs included, the Slovenian was incredible. His numbers and impact were often mind-boggling. He is deserving of ESPN’s recognition as much as any of the top contenders.

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Luka Doncic joins Dirk Nowitzki as only 2 Dallas Mavericks players to win Player of the Year ESPY award

The Player of the Year ESPY award was first handed out in 1993 with no less than Michael Jordan as the inaugural winner. Dirk Nowitzki was the first player from the Dallas Mavericks to win the award. The German won it in 2011 after the Mavs pulled off one of the biggest upsets in NBA Finals history. Behind Nowitzki, Dallas took down the mighty Miami Heat with prime LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

This year, Doncic joined Nowitzki on that list. The Mavericks not winning the 2024 NBA championship will be a point of contention. but, there have been past winners who also failed to win the title the year the award was given to them.

The Mavs’ only championship came during Dirk Nowitzki’s watch. Fans will have to continue to wait for the day Doncic joins the Hall of Famer on that list.