Luka Dončić Off to Historic Scoring Start with Los Angeles Lakers
Luka Dončić is averaging 38.6 points per game to start the season, matching offensive production levels not seen since Wilt Chamberlain.
🏀NBA & WNBAPhoto: The Athletic
Key points
- Luka Dončić is averaging 38.6 points per game with a 66.3% true shooting percentage.
- His performance mirrors early-season scoring feats previously only achieved by Wilt Chamberlain.
- Increased reliance on the step-back three-pointer and improved floor spacing are driving his efficiency.
Luka Dončić has opened the season with a scoring tear that places him in rare historical company, currently averaging 38.6 points per game for the 11-2 Los Angeles Lakers. Over his first nine appearances, Dončić maintained a scoring pace reminiscent of Wilt Chamberlain, and while his average dipped slightly after a 64-point combined performance across his tenth and eleventh games, his efficiency remains at an elite level.
The star guard is currently posting shooting splits of 48.9% from the field, 40.8% from three-point range, and 86.6% from the free-throw line, resulting in a 66.3% true shooting percentage. This level of efficiency, paired with such high volume, is unprecedented in NBA history, eclipsing the previous benchmarks set by high-scoring seasons from players like James Harden.
Analysts point to Dončić's increased comfort with his signature step-back three-pointer and a shift in offensive spacing following the departure of LeBron James as key factors in his hot start. While he is currently taking fewer shots at the rim than in previous years, his ability to capitalize on his preferred spots on the floor has driven his production. Whether he can maintain this historic pace remains the primary question as the season progresses.
What to watch next: Monitor the sustainability of Dončić's shooting percentages as the defensive pressure increases throughout the long regular season.
Source The Athletic — nytimes.com/athletic/7775977/2026/11/12/luka-doncic-lakers-scoring-… ↗
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