Luka Doncic named second most influential European NBA player
Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images 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 Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images 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.