Luka Doncic revealed two players that he thinks would be the best opponents for a coveted 1-on-1 final at the NBA All-Star game, and he didn’t take his name as one of those. Former Mavericks teammate Kyrie Irving and Spurs rising star Victor Wembanyama are the two players for Doncic who would excel in such a specific competition.
Sitting across Sean Evans on the famous YouTube show “Hot Ones,” Doncic went in-depth into why these two would fit perfectly.
“Oh, that’s a tough question, so many good players. But I feel like Wemby is going to be there, one-on-one, where you really can’t score on him. It’s very tough. The second one, probably put Kyrie in there, you know, his one-on-one moves are insane.” Doncic said.
The NBA is reportedly exploring a one-on-one tournament for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game and beyond. It will be a 16-player bracket, with a possible $1 million cash prize for the winner. The idea is still in discussion, and implementation is pending as per the last reporting. Wembanyama’s eight-foot wingspan makes it extremely easy for him to foresee shots and understand what his opponent’s next move is going to be. And when it’s just him, there’s nowhere to hide.
Irving, on the other hand, has been a lethal finisher; he finds ways around the tallest centers in the league. So, as the host, Sean Evans put it, it is indeed a ‘David and Goliath’ like face-off. Blocking for the seven-foot-five Wembanyama has come in very handy. Already this preseason, he has had five blocks. On top of that, he led the league in blocks last season with 176 blocks, which comes to 3.8 blocks a game over 46 games where he played for 33.2 minutes every game.
He also had 52 steals in the season, which shows how he uses his slick hands to cut through the opponents’ moves. His defensive rating was 107.7, and it improved to 103.1 in December, indicating how he elevated his game as things got more meaningful. Many of his blocks come on help and recovery, which means even when he’s beaten, he can recover, rotate, or alter plans, and that frame lends him the leeway to beat you the next time, overturning his mistake.
Kyrie Irving had insane offensive numbers the last time he played. He had an offensive rating of 126.8. He played 50 games and averaged 24.7 points per game, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. He shot 40.1% from the three-point line, 47.3% from the field, 91.6% from the free-throw line, and 91.6% from the free-throw line.
The offensive maestro changes tactics, keeps defense guessing till the last minute, and the plethora of moves he has in his pockets lends him the respect of the defensive opponent, so they have to be on their toes, he can do almost anything offensively, go to the board from the either sides, shooting perfectly from both hands, and has a jumpshot which he can stop on a quarter.
Those numbers indicate how easily he maneuvers through some of the toughest defenses in the league, and he even averaged 36.1 minutes of playing time, showcasing his stamina. It is extremely difficult to predict which one will come out on top because they can both score at an extremely easy rate.
He’d have the edge against Irving, but he’d have a tough time against other tougher centers from the league. But maybe the younger superstar will have the edge because of his defensive abilities. Although one could argue that in a 16-player tournament, he will have to face bulkier centers, his prime weakness remains his strength.
This offseason, he has worked out with other centers like Hakeem Olajuwon and Kevin Garnett. And he also visited a Shaolin temple in China for strength and endurance training. He surely wouldn’t call Karl Malone because of his now-famous opinion on him. But surely, someone like Shaquille O’Neal could guide him towards the direction he needs to go in.
