Kendrick Perkins Shares Strong Take About Lakers' Luka Doncic Making All-NBA First Team

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Ishaan Bhattacharya | Last updated Mar 18, 2026 10:10 AM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers are sitting No. 3 in the Western Conference with a 43-25 record despite experts casting major doubts on their roster's ability to affect winning at a high-level due to flaws in the construction of the roster around Luka Doncic. Despite those concerns, the Lakers are looking like a dangerous team heading into the NBA playoffs.

Doncic is averaging 32.9 points, 8.5 assists and 7.9 rebounds this season, dominating defenses as many expect him to do. He's had a profound winning impact on the franchise, with them having a 6-6 record when he's not available.

While many believe his numbers and the Lakers' success warrant MVP buzz for Doncic, some believe he shouldn't even get an All-NBA First Team selection.

Former NBA Champion Kendrick Perkins went on ESPN's First Take and made his case for why Doncic doesn't belong in the group of the five-best players in the NBA this season.

"You have SGA, Jokic, Jaylen Brown, Cade Cunningham because they have the best record in the Eastern Conference, and then I have Wemby, they're second in the West. So, Luka doesn't make my First-Team All-NBA. I'd have him on my second team."

Los Angeles Lakers forward/guard Luka Doncic (77) talks to Head Coach JJ Redick against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at Smoothie King Center.Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Doncic made five consecutive All-NBA First Team appearances from 2020 to 2024 before missing out last year due to not playing enough games to be eligible. Doncic is usually an automatic selection to the First Team when he's eligible, but Perkins' take can't be dismissed entirely.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.7 points, 6.6 assists and 4.5 rebounds on the best team in the NBA while Nikola Jokic is having an absurd season, averaging 28.2 points, 12.6 rebounds and 10.6 assists. Jaylen Brown is averaging 28.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists and single-handedly kept the Celtics as contenders in Jayson Tatum's absence.

Cade Cunningham is averaging 24.5 points, 9.9 assists and 5.6 rebounds as the Pistons have run roughshod over the East, while Victor Wembanyama's Spurs have done something similar in the West behind his 24.2 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game on the season.

Doncic's numbers are more impressive than almost all of them except Jokic. He's also carrying the same roster that had their preseason win/loss over-under at 46.5, a mark they're just four wins away from with a month left in the season.

Given the Celtics are just two wins ahead of the Lakers, it's hard to see why he would deserve a spot over Doncic, given the difference in their production. There's a compelling narrative around Brown, but it's hard for anyone to objectively say they'd rather have Brown over Doncic given what the two have achieved individually this season.

Regardless, if Doncic wants a First Team spot, he'll have to ensure the Lakers keep their head above the chasing pack in the West and lock down the No. 3 seed before the end of the season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: