Luka Doncic has been the league’s most dominant performer throughout January. On Friday, he once again put on a show with a historic outing against the Washington Wizards as the Lakers cruised to a convincing 142-111 victory.
The performance showed another sign that the Lakers are gradually reshaping their identity around Luka. The transition appears to be one the franchise has embraced, and LeBron James, in particular, seems more than comfortable stepping back and allowing Doncic to take center stage. Following Friday’s win, LeBron openly expressed his admiration for the young superstar.
“I really care about the kid,” James said. “I admire everything about his game and who he is. I just want him to take his career as far as he possibly can, and I’m glad I can play even a small role in that journey. Hopefully, there’s something he can learn from me along the way.”
Against Washington, Doncic finished with 37 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists, three steals, and six three-pointers. With that performance, he became the leading scorer of the 2020s decade, surpassing Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Doncic also joined LeBron James as the only players in Lakers franchise history to record a 35-point triple-double with five or more made three-pointers in a road win. In addition, he passed James Harden for the most games in NBA history featuring at least 35 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and five made threes.
League-Wide Reaction to Luka Doncic’s Impact
Teams across the NBA have taken notice of what Luka Doncic brings to the table. According to a report from Tim MacMahon, there is interest among big men around the league who are eager for the opportunity to play alongside Doncic in Los Angeles.
“Big men would do anything to wear a Lakers jersey if it means playing next to Luka,” MacMahon said. “I spoke with an agent representing a big man who could be on the move, and his priority would be getting his client to L.A. That’s how appealing it is to play with Luka.”
Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks continue to feel the aftermath of moving on from Doncic. Reports suggest the trade took a heavy emotional toll on Luka at the time, but his arrival in Los Angeles quickly changed the narrative. The city, the fans, and his new teammates welcomed him with open arms and helpex him move past what he left behind.
This season, Doncic is averaging 33.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Over the month of January, Luka has averaged an incredible 34 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game. With numbers like those, he has firmly placed himself among the frontrunners in the MVP race.
