To paraphrase from something LeBron James recently said to Luka Doncic (and also reiterated in an Instagram story from Monday night), the Dallas Mavericks star is one bad, bad man.
On Monday night in a win over the San Antonio Spurs, the second-year stud had a game for the ages with 42 points, 11 rebounds, 12 assists and a 5-of-13 night from beyond the arc.
And now we get to throw his name into the early NBA MVP mix with the Dallas Mavericks right in the thick of the Western Conference contenders at 8-5.
Seriously. Have you seen his numbers this year? Let’s get into what he did on Monday night and what he’s done so far with some jaw-dropping stats.
1.
LUKA DONCIC 🤯
42 PTS (career-high), 11 REB & 12 AST 📈
All players in NBA history to record a 40+ PTS triple-double before the age of 21: LeBron James & Luka Doncic. That's it. 💫
Catch Luka in action again for #NBASundays this week 🙌 pic.twitter.com/jwXI6CfqrM
— NBA UK (@NBAUK) November 19, 2019
Doncic and LeBron are the only players with a 40-point triple-double pre-age 21. That’s SCARY.
2.
Luka Doncic is the only NBA player currently ranked in the top 10 in scoring (fourth, 29.5 ppg), rebounding (10th, 10.7) and assists (second, 9.3). The season is only a month old, but with the Mavs at 8-5, the 20-year-old is unquestionably on the short list of MVP candidates.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) November 19, 2019
3.
No player 20 or younger has averaged more points than Luka Doncic.
No player 20 or younger has averaged more assists than Luka Doncic.
The only 3 players 20 or younger to average more rebounds than Luka Doncic are Shaquille O’Neal, Andre Drummond and Dwight Howard.
— Micah Adams (@MicahAdams13) November 19, 2019
The season is still young, but … whoa.
4.
Most triple-doubles before turning 21 years old:
Luka Doncic: 13
Magic Johnson: 7
LeBron James: 5No other player in NBA history has more than three
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) November 15, 2019
This needs updating — he had triple double No. 14 on Monday.
5.
Luka Doncic with another amazing night, 42-12-11 and had the Spurs on a string.
My favorite Doncic-related nugget, via last week’s column: https://t.co/3rKBnxpH8m pic.twitter.com/mSk9DJhKO2
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) November 19, 2019
This might be my favorite stat of all. Doncic continues to destroy defenders both inside (without dunks!) AND with that step-back three that might be one of the NBA’s most unstoppable shots:
Luka Doncic is unreal
42 points
11 rebounds
11 assists pic.twitter.com/twIbtqpSPC— Isaac Harris (@IsaacLHarris) November 19, 2019
6.
imagine taking Deandre Ayton and Marvin Bagley in the draft while Luka Doncic was still on the board
— Isaac K. Lee (@IsaacKLee) November 19, 2019
The stat here? He was the third overall pick in 2018, behind Deandre Ayton and Marvin Bagley … which the Suns and Kings might regret.
[opinary poll=”will-luka-doncic-win-an-mvp-award-during” customer=”forthewin”]
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