Luka Doncic delivered an impressive performance, scoring 44 points in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 117-112 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night. This marked his return after a three-game injury absence and placed him in a unique category alongside Wilt Chamberlain in the NBA history books. Doncic’s remarkable start has sparked discussions about whether he can maintain this scoring pace throughout the season.
Doncic’s 44-point effort was his third consecutive game scoring at least 40 points, a feat only achieved by Chamberlain. The Lakers star opened the season with 43 points in a loss to the Golden State Warriors on October 21, 2023, followed by 49 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 24, 2023. Following these performances, Doncic sat out a few games due to a finger and lower leg injury.
He and Chamberlain are the only players in NBA history to start a season with three consecutive 40-point games. Chamberlain accomplished this twice, with streaks of five games in the 1961-62 season and seven games in 1962-63. The question now is whether Doncic can join Chamberlain as the only players to average at least 40 points over an entire season.
Currently, Doncic is averaging an astounding 45.3 points per game, shooting 58.4% from the field and 35.1% from three-point range, in addition to contributing 11.7 rebounds and 7.7 assists. When asked about the possibility of maintaining his scoring average, Doncic acknowledged the challenge, stating, “That’s gonna be tough. Sometimes they’re going to double [team] me more. Sometimes I won’t be able to score that much.”
Teammates, however, express confidence in Doncic’s abilities. Austin Reaves, a fellow Lakers player, suggested that averaging 40 points per game could significantly benefit the team. When Reaves’ belief was shared with Doncic, he humorously responded, “Austin’s stupid,” highlighting their playful relationship.
Chamberlain remains the only player to achieve an average of at least 40 points in a season, a milestone he last reached over 60 years ago. He also holds the record for averaging at least 38 points in a season with a 38.4 average in 1960-61. The only other player to surpass 37 points for an entire season was Michael Jordan, who averaged 37.1 points in the 1986-87 season.
Support for Doncic’s scoring ambitions extends beyond Reaves. Veteran guard Marcus Smart expressed his belief in Doncic’s potential to average 40 points this season, saying, “I don’t see why not. He has a lot of help on the wings… He can do those things and help this team win.” Smart added that many players in the league could achieve similar scoring feats if provided with the opportunity.
As the Lakers prepare for their next game against the Miami Heat, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Doncic can continue his historic scoring streak.
With two other players, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers, currently averaging over 35 points per game, the league is witnessing a surge in scoring talent. Smart emphasizes that scoring opportunities heavily influence players’ averages, stating, “There are definitely players in this league… that on any given night can do what Luka is doing. But to see the way Luka is doing it consistently, it’s incredible.”
The spotlight now shines on Doncic as he aims to redefine scoring standards in the NBA.
