Luka Doncic finishing second to Giannis Antetokounmpo in a new European NBA influence ranking is not the slight it may first appear.
The Betsson study placed Doncic behind Giannis after measuring winning percentage, global popularity, Google search volume and positive fan sentiment from 2020 to 2025.
That matters because the most revealing number was not the overall ranking. It was Doncic recording the highest positive fan sentiment score in the study at 62 percent.
Luka Doncic ranking second still shows huge global influence
Giannis led the rankings with a 96.66 overall score, which reflects his rare mix of winning, profile and reach.
Doncic still landed second with a 57.2 percent win rate, more than 368,000 monthly Google searches and the best positive sentiment mark of any listed player.
That is the important point. Doncic has often been framed as a polarising superstar, but this study shows his support base remains vast and highly engaged.
Finishing behind Giannis does not weaken that argument. It shows how strong the top of the European NBA group has become.
The MVP frustration does not match Luka Doncic’s fan support
The timing is notable because Doncic finished fourth in MVP voting without receiving a first-place vote.
That result caused obvious debate, yet it does not tell the whole story of how fans view him.
Doncic was named a 2026 NBA All-Star starter, while his move to the Los Angeles Lakers helped him top NBA jersey sales for the 2024/25 season.
Those markers fit the Betsson data better than the MVP frustration does. Doncic remains one of basketball’s clearest global draws.
The wider picture is just as clear. Nikola Jokic ranked third, Victor Wembanyama fourth, and international players have won the last eight NBA MVP awards.
Doncic did not finish first, but the study still says plenty. His popularity is not fading. It is part of the modern NBA’s international centre of gravity.
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