Doncic surpasses LeBron James in Lakers history and positions himself as MVP

Luka Doncic has started the NBA 2026-27 season eager to make his mark with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Slovenian led the comeback against the Utah Jazz with a performance of 52 points, eight rebounds, and ten assists, securing the victory for his team by 130-123 after overcoming an 18-point deficit. The Lakers remain unbeaten with a record of 3-0, and their star has already set a historic franchise record, in addition to surpassing LeBron James in another scoring ranking. His start fuels the debate about a potential MVP candidacy, but it also raises a question: do the Lakers have enough around Doncic to really contend for the championship?

Doncic breaks a Lakers record and surpasses LeBron James

The game against Utah showcased Doncic's ability to dominate a match from multiple facets. His 52 points were the centerpiece of a comeback that allowed the Lakers to maintain their undefeated status, but the performance also had significant historical value.

The Slovenian became the player who needed the fewest games to reach 3,000 points with the Lakers. He only needed 95 games to achieve this, surpassing a mark that had belonged to George Mikan for decades.

Players who needed the fewest games to reach 3,000 points with the Lakers

Doncic has also surpassed LeBron in the number of games with at least 40 points for the Lakers. The Slovenian has already recorded 19, compared to the 18 that the forward achieved during his time in Los Angeles. The comparison is particularly striking because LeBron wore the Lakers' colors from 2018 to 2026, while Doncic joined the franchise in 2025.

More 40-point games in Lakers history

The ranking reflects Doncic's scoring dimension, although he still has a long way to go to approach Kobe Bryant's records, who tops the list with 122 games of at least 40 points.

Doncic, among the MVP favorites: can he lead the Lakers to the championship?

The exhibition against Utah also elevated his historic stats in the NBA. With ten games of at least 50 points, Doncic is already among the great scorers of all time. LeBron James, on the other hand, has accumulated 14 such games in his career.

More 50-point games in NBA history

With this start, Doncic has arguments to place himself in the MVP conversation. His ability to produce points, create advantages, and distribute the game makes him one of the hardest players to stop in the league. If he maintains an extraordinary statistical level and the Lakers finish among the top teams in the Western Conference, his candidacy could gain significant momentum.

However, the award does not depend solely on individual statistics. Collective performance, the number of wins, and consistency throughout the 82-game season will be determining factors. A 3-0 start is excellent news, but it is still early to draw definitive conclusions.

Moreover, the game against Utah raised a warning. The Jazz scored 47 points in the first quarter and had the Lakers on the ropes. The team needed a comeback led by their star to ultimately win by 130-123. Winning games like this demonstrates character, but depending on individual performances of this magnitude can become a problem when the more demanding matchups arrive.

The Lakers need much more than a historic Doncic to aspire to the championship. The Slovenian can hold the team during the regular season, but to compete for the title, he will need his teammates to contribute scoring, defense, rebounding, and the ability to take on responsibilities when opposing defenses focus their efforts on him.

In the playoffs, opponents will have more time to study his movements and design systems aimed at limiting his influence. If Los Angeles does not have enough offensive threats around Doncic, the opponent will be able to close spaces, force the ball to other players, and turn each possession into a physical battle.

For now, the record is impeccable: three wins in three games and a leader who is already signing historic records. But the true challenge for the Lakers is not to see how far Doncic can go individually, but to build a team capable of transforming his dominance into a real opportunity to win the title. The MVP is within reach of an extraordinary season; the championship requires the entire roster to step up to his level.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Doncic ya supera a Lebron James en la historia de los Lakers y se postula como MVP