Luka Doncic scores 53 as Lakers beat Trail Blazers, lifts average above 40

Luka Doncic scored a season-high 53 points Friday as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 124-118 at Crypto.com Arena. The performance raised his scoring average to 40.1 points per game.

That average is the best of the 27-year-old Slovenian's career, and it puts him on pace for a mark the NBA has not seen in more than six decades. Wilt Chamberlain, in 1962-63, was the last player to average at least 40 points over a season.

Doncic also made a 62-foot shot at the halftime buzzer, which helped set up the Lakers' comeback win. He has now scored 40 or more six times this season and passed 50 for the second time.

Friday's game was his fourth straight with at least 40 points. Only three other Lakers have put together a streak that long: Kobe Bryant, Elgin Baylor and George Mikan.

Doncic has 361 points through his first nine games. According to ESPN Research, Chamberlain is the only player to score more over a season's first nine games. The Hall of Fame center did it twice, with 455 points in 1961-62 and 472 in 1962-63. He finished those seasons averaging an NBA-record 50.4 points and 44.8 points, respectively.

Several stars since then have come close to 40 without reaching it. Michael Jordan's 37.1 points per game in 1986-87 is the highest average of the 3-point era. James Harden's 36.1 in 2018-19 is the top scoring season this century. Bryant's 35.4 is the best by a Laker since the NBA and ABA merged in 1976.

Doncic's previous best for a full season was 33.9 points per game, set with the Dallas Mavericks in 2023-24.

He played down the chase after Friday's game. "It's obviously a long season," Doncic said, noting that the Lakers have 72 games left. "As long as we're winning, I'm good." He acknowledged he had been aggressive about shooting against Portland and added, "Hopefully, it continues, but you never know."

Doncic has become the clear centerpiece in Los Angeles since LeBron James left for the Philadelphia 76ers in the offseason. The Lakers own the league's top-ranked offense. Going into Friday's game, Doncic led the NBA in scoring, shot attempts, 3-point attempts, free throw attempts, usage rate, player efficiency rating and win shares.

The 53-point night was the 11th 50-point game of his career. That ties him for 10th in NBA history. Among active players, only Harden, Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard and James have more.

"Luka can do some things that maybe a handful, if not no one, can do in basketball," Lakers coach JJ Redick said.

The opposing bench offered similar praise. Before tipoff, Trail Blazers coach Micah Nori said Doncic is currently the league's MVP. "Hands down," he said.