Luka Doncic continued his breakout season Monday with yet another remarkable performance, erupting for a career-high 42 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists as the Dallas Mavericks outlasted the San Antonio Spurs 117-110.
The feat put him in extremely rare company, with only LeBron James, Doncic’s childhood idol, putting up such a line at a younger age.
https://www.nba.com/games/20191118/SASDAL
👀 @luka7doncic (20 years, 263 days) becomes the 2nd-youngest player to record a 40-PT triple-double in @NBAHistory. The youngest was @KingJames (20 years, 100 days) on 4/9/2005.
Luka: 42 PTS, 11 REB, 12 AST
LeBron: 40 PTS, 10 REB, 10 AST pic.twitter.com/JhuN2Q9xm2— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) November 19, 2019
https://www.nba.com/games/20191118/SASDAL
”It feels like every day there are stats you don’t know about, stats that you read about,” Doncic said after Monday’s game. ”It’s great to hit.”
Doncic’s sixth triple-double of 2019-20 pushed his season averages to even more absurd heights at 29.5 points, 10.7 rebounds and 9.3 assists.
The only player in NBA history to reach those thresholds over a full season? Oscar Robertson, all the way back in 1961-62.
It’s impossible to say if Doncic can maintain such ridiculous production. But given how consistent he’s been through 13 games, coming off one of the more impressive rookie seasons in recent NBA history, anything seems possible for the 20-year-old prodigy from Slovenia.
“This guy can do anything he wants to on a basketball court,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said Monday night. ”He’s having one of those magical runs right now. It’s a phenomenal thing to watch. It’s a phenomenal thing to be a part of.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
