Lakers superstar guard Luka Doncic reached heights only achieved by Wilt Chamberlain during his return to action on Friday. Doncic scored 44 points against Memphis, becoming the only player in NBA history other than Chamberlain to top 40 points in three straight games to begin his season.
Doncic had missed the previous three games with a sprained finger on his left hand and a lower left leg contusion.
“I mean, I feel great,” Doncic said when told about joining Chamberlain that category, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “But obviously, if we get a win, I feel even better. So that’s the whole point, trying to help the team to win. And sometimes it’s going to be scoring, sometimes other things.”
By averaging 45.3 points in his first three games, Doncic became the first Lakers player since Kobe Bryant in 2007 to average 45 or more in any three-game span. He doesn’t see himself keeping up the 4o-per game pace throughout a whole season.
“That’s going to be tough,” Doncic said. “Sometimes they’re going to double me more. Sometimes I won’t be able to score that much. I had I think three or four shots that were crazy shots that I felt like doing, but they were terrible shots. … I’ve got to work on that. But that’s tough. I don’t know.”
We have more on the Lakers:
- After missing two games due to a quad contusion, Marcus Smart contributed 12 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals on Friday. “He was great,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said, per Khobi Price of the Orange County Register. “The main point about physicality, I think he, along with a couple other guys, but he’s gotta be the leader of the physicality. He’s gotta set the tone and there were a lot of moments where he did that. But it made a big difference and then he just played really good on the offensive end, made some timely shots for us.”
- Starting center Deandre Ayton didn’t play in the second half after experiencing back spasms. Redick said Ayton was available to play in the fourth quarter, but didn’t want to “risk it.”
- Austin Reaves averaged 40 points during the three games Doncic missed. He had a season-low 21 points against Memphis and was disappointed with his 5 of 14 shooting. “His ability to get us off to hot starts is big for us because, if you come out and he has 15 in the first, we’re going to score, I would assume, 30 [points],” Reaves said of Doncic. “Unless everybody else is shooting bricks like I was (Friday).”
- The win on Friday was the first of four NBA Cup Group Play games. Their other matchups are at the Pelicans on Nov. 14, at home vs. the Clippers on Nov. 25 and at home vs. the Mavericks on Nov. 28, Price notes. “It’s my little taste of an All-Star Game,” Ayton said. “It feels like that’s when everybody [is] watching, and everybody playing their hardest. Dudes are playing extremely hard. It feels like playoff games, the fans are super into it.”
the decision to let LeBron go is getting easier and easier for the Lakers. They can win without him and are a better team without him. LeBron has always been a ball hog which will take away baskets for Luka and Reeves. Also their defense will get worse with him on the court. looks more and more he is going back home to the Cavs.
It’s time for the Lebron retirement tour, ala Shaq. Time to sign for the vets minimum and become a part time player and do some ring chasing!
Warriors (win one with Steph)
Spurs (win one with Wemby)
Cleveland (final season, no title because its the Cavs, its symbolic, they likely will be tanking around this time anyway. Bron’s final game he will play 40+ mins and try and score all the points, like Kobe)
Bro his contract is expiring. He is 41 yrs old. Leave him be ……
Just stating the obvious.
LeBron is a plus defensively, especially when he hasn’t had to carry the offensive load. Besides Vanderbilt, he’s still objectively the best defensive forward they have… So not sure how their D would get worse outside of a narrative
The Lakers roster is objectively terrible though.
/misses entire games to injuries
“I feel great”
Ok bud
“becoming the only player in NBA history other than Chamberlain to top 40 points in three straight games to begin his season.”
What they don’t tell you. Is Wilt controlled those games on defense too. Wilt the Greatest 2Way Player in history. The OneWay Wonder should never be in the same sentence with Wilt ……. 😡
Why don’t you comment about how your knicks suck and will be lucky to make the playoffs-in this year, as opposed to, jabbering nonsense you know nothing about!
just leave Luka alone
🙃
So good on defense he blocked his own teammates shots. Does that make him a 3 way player
LBJ is not finishing his career in LA. Not if they can’t go to Finals. And we all know they won’t …….
We all know how Bron is.
He does it his way lols …Bron GM
I strongly believe he will ask to get bought out at TD. And either go to Cavs or Warriors.
Ended it with a chip in TheLand.
Or team up with Steph finally. And have a bunch of old guys take down the Mighty young Thunder ….
Thats the way to go out.
You know he would love it.
Lakers are not only going to the Finals, but are winning it this year!
They aren’t even the the best basketball team in LA
only thing they are winning this year is a lottery pick. Make sure you draft someone to play D for Luka.
You know how look Luka spells defense ?????
HurryUpbShoot si I can get the ball back
Lmao …..😀😃😱😱