Luka Doncic Is Unstoppable: “Right Now, He’s the MVP”

Luka Doncic is averaging over 40 points per game. That number alone tells you just how incredible the Slovenian superstar has been to start the season, taking his game to another level as the leader of the Los Angeles Lakers.

His latest masterpiece came in a 124-118 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, where he dropped a season-high 53 points and knocked down an incredible shot from beyond half court that helped swing the momentum in the Lakers’ favor.

With that performance, Doncic raised his scoring average to 40.1 points through his first nine games, putting himself in territory that has almost exclusively belonged to Wilt Chamberlain throughout NBA history.

The last player to average at least 40 points over an entire season was Chamberlain himself, back in 1962/63. Since then, legends like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and James Harden have put together historic scoring seasons without ever reaching that mark.

Luka Doncic Is Putting Up Numbers We Haven’t Seen in Over 60 Years

Through his first nine appearances, Doncic has scored 361 total points. Only Wilt Chamberlain has ever scored more at the same stage of an NBA season, with 472 points in 1962/63 and 455 in 1961/62.

To put those numbers into perspective, Michael Jordan averaged 37.1 points in 1986/87, the highest single-season scoring average of the three-point era. James Harden reached 36.1 points per game in 2018/19, while Kobe Bryant finished the 2005/06 season averaging 35.4.

Before this season, Doncic’s career-high scoring average was 33.9 points per game, set with Dallas in 2023/24. Now, he’s taking his offensive production to an entirely different level.

Doncic Is Enjoying Every Moment: “I’m Living My Dream”

With LeBron James leaving for the Philadelphia 76ers over the summer, Doncic has officially taken full control of the Lakers’ offense.

And he’s making the most of it.

The Slovenian superstar is leading what is currently the NBA’s best offense, while sitting at the top of several individual statistical categories, including scoring and usage rate.

Following the win over Portland, JJ Redick praised his superstar’s ability to make the extraordinary look routine.

Luka can do things on a basketball court that very few players, if any, are capable of doing

JJ Redick

For now, though, Doncic isn’t getting caught up in the records or the possibility of actually finishing a season averaging more than 40 points per game.

Obviously, it’s a long season. We’ve played ten games, and we still have 72 to go. As long as we’re winning, I’m happy. I took a lot of shots today, I can’t deny that. Hopefully, I can keep it going, but you never know

Luka Doncic

One of the biggest highlights of the night came just before halftime, when Doncic drained an unbelievable buzzer-beater from around 62 feet, giving the Lakers a huge momentum boost as they fought their way back into the game.

After the game, Luka delivered a response that was about as Luka Doncic as it gets.

I thought it was an important shot to make… so I decided to make it

Luka Doncic

Meanwhile, even opposing coaches are starting to make their MVP predictions.

Before the game, Portland head coach Micah Nori had already made it clear who he believes deserves the award right now.

Right now, Luka is the MVP. No question about it

Micah Nori

And Doncic? Rather than worrying about individual awards, he seems more interested in enjoying every second of this incredible stretch.

I’m having so much fun. I’m just living my dream

Luka Doncic

With LeBron gone, the Lakers have officially become Luka Doncic’s team, and he hasn’t wasted any time embracing that responsibility.

More touches, more shots and, at least for now, a scoring pace that no defense seems capable of slowing down.