Luka Doncic is missing the NBA’s 65-game threshold by just one game. That’s exactly where the agony is building up. The six-time All-Star has had a season worth remembering; putting it this way even seems like an understatement. Doncic leads the league in scoring and rose in the MVP standings after an outstanding month of March. A late-season hamstring injury could prevent him from being eligible. However, that could change if the NBA considers his situation.

Doncic’s agent, Bill Duffy, will be appealing his disqualification under the “Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge” guidelines. Notably, Doncic missed two games to attend the birth of his child in Slovenia. His agent is hopeful that the NBA recognizes the purpose as bigger than basketball and calls for a “fair outcome” that allows Doncic to be eligible for end-of-season awards. Duffy’s plans, though, could delay the entire award process altogether…

That’s because league rules only allow such appeals to be made on April 12, which is the final day of the regular season. That’s generally also the day the league sends out voter ballots to finalize the honors in a roughly 36-hour window. In this case, the time taken to first review Doncic’s case could very well prolong the voting for the award. That’s because Doncic is contending for a series of accolades, and the voters need to know whether he is eligible.

By his numbers alone, the Slovenian is a lock for an All-NBA selection. He’s also part of the MVP race. “The league will have to rule on the challenge before releasing it’s electronic ballots to voters, meaning that the voting process might be delayed slightly from its planned April 13-14 window,” NBA insider Marc Stein wrote on his Substack.

According to the CBA, the hearing with an independent expert must take place within 2 days and cannot last longer than 1 day. A resolution must come a day later. Bypassing their own regulations is the one way for the league to prevent a delay. If the NBA can hold a channel of communication with Duffy behind closed doors to settle the matter, there won’t be any hindrance. Adam Silver, though, might prefer open communication with the fanbase, considering the case is as big as Doncic’s. However, for the Slovenian, being recognized as an All-NBA point guard isn’t at the top of his list of priorities.

Luka Doncic is doing anything and everything possible to get healthy

Luka Doncic suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain in the last week of the regular season. That was a crushing blow to the Los Angeles Lakers. They lost their nucleus, who was averaging close to 34 points per game. Doncic had also started playing the best basketball of his season, peaking at the right time. He didn’t want to let this window of opportunity just fly by. Ideally, it would take 4-6 weeks to recover. He would likely miss the first round. To shorten that time, he has decided to travel to Spain. The purpose is to have access to more advanced medical treatment that isn’t as accessible in the USA.

Dr. Evan Jeffries spoke to The California Post to detail the exact course of recovery in Spain. Doncic could undergo laser treatment and stem cell treatment there. “Stem cells can be more manipulated to increase their potency in Spain. Same with PRP. Theoretically, he could cut his timeline in half,” Jeffries expanded on the benefit of seeking treatment overseas.

If successful, that would allow Doncic to return in a few weeks. It makes his availability in the first round a real possibility. That is especially important since Austin Reaves is also out for almost the same amount of time as Doncic, if not longer. The Lakers can’t rely on a 41-year-old LeBron James to exhaust himself until the band returns.

Realistically, they stand a chance at competing only if Doncic is on the floor and healthy. The 27-year-old is going through all means to make sure he’s ready as soon as possible. Being an All-NBA or MVP isn’t the biggest goal. He wants to honor the tradition in LA and compete for a championship. He’s already sacrificed his previous lifestyle to become a ferocious force. Now, Doncic is taking an extra step to ensure he can finish the story honorably.