The numbers that explain why Luka Doncic is already one of the best scorers in history
The numbers of the Slovenian superstar of the Los Angeles Lakers are out of this world, and in this article, you will understand the reasons.
«Luka is one of the best scorers to have ever played this sport, if not the best.» Giannis Antetokounmpo did not hold back in his praise for the Los Angeles Lakers guard after he scored 42 points against Miami. When a journalist asked if he was referring to the best currently, the Greek was even more emphatic: «No, not at this moment, no. Of all time! I think some people are afraid to say it, but he has to be up there.»
Although figures like wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan have existed in NBA history with higher scoring records, Doncic's numbers justify his name appearing among the greatest offensive specialists of all time. His spectacular start to the season has allowed him to set several records that reflect his extraordinary performance.
Five games of 40 points or more in eight outings
Doncic has reached 40 points in five of the eight games he has played this season. The Slovenian scored 52 against the Jazz, 41 against the Blazers, 45 against the Raptors, 42 against the Heat, and 40 against the Kings. Furthermore, his last three performances above that threshold have been consecutive.
His personal best in a season is 16 games with at least 40 points, a figure he achieved last season. Without LeBron James on the team, Doncic has become the absolute reference for the Lakers and is poised to easily surpass that mark.
308 points in the first eight games
The guard has accumulated 308 points in the first eight games of the season. To find a similar record, one must go back to the 1988-89 season, when Michael Jordan scored 303 with the Chicago Bulls.
Doncic's start is the best since Wilt Chamberlain, who holds the top three historical records in this regard. His highest count was 418 points in the first eight games of the 1962-63 season.
The third best scoring average in a season
If he were to maintain his current average, something that seems very difficult, Doncic would finish the season with 38.50 points per game. That figure would represent the third best scoring average in NBA history.
Only Chamberlain has managed to end a season with a higher average. The legendary center accomplished this twice: 50.36 points in the 1961-62 season and 44.83 the following one. The fourth and fifth best marks also belong to him, while Jordan occupies the next spot.
Third in scoring average throughout his career
His extraordinary start to the season has also elevated Doncic's career scoring average to 29.37 points per game. That record places him in the third historical position in the NBA.
In front of him are only the two great scoring references of the competition. Jordan finished with an average of 30.12 points, while Chamberlain ended his career with 30.07.
Scores 40 points in 12.6% of his games
After exceeding 40 points in his last three games, Doncic has a total of 67 games with at least that score in the 522 he has played in the NBA. This means he has reached that figure in 12.6% of his appearances.
Once again, only Chamberlain and Jordan present better percentages. The former scored at least 40 points in 271 of his 1,045 games, representing 25.9%. Jordan achieved it in 173 of his 1,072 games, 16.1%.
His first 100 games with the Lakers, among the best in history
The game against the Kings also had special significance for Doncic, who reached 100 games with the Los Angeles Lakers jersey. In that hundred appearances, he has scored 3,240 points, a figure that places him as the third player with the most scoring in his first 100 games with a franchise.
Chamberlain appears again ahead of the Slovenian. The center scored 3,748 points in his first 100 games with the Warriors and 3,271 in the same number of games with the Sixers.
The best scoring average in Lakers history
The 3,240 points Doncic achieved in his first 100 games with the Lakers represent an average of 32.40 per game. This is the best scoring average in the history of the franchise, ahead of some of the greatest legends that have passed through the team.
Elgin Baylor finished with 27.4 points per game, while Shaquille O'Neal and Jerry West recorded 27.0 each. LeBron James stood at 25.9 and Kobe Bryant at 25.0. Even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, whose scoring performance declined during the last seasons of his career, appears far behind, with an average of 22.1 points.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los números que explican por qué Luka Doncic ya es uno de los mejores anotadores de la historia