The Los Angeles Lakers are off to a strong 15–5 start, good for second place in the Western Conference. No player has fueled that success more than Luka Doncic, who is making one of the strongest early MVP cases in the league.
Doncic is averaging 35.1 points, the highest mark in the NBA. He also ranks fourth in assists with 9.2 per game and 19th in rebounds at 8.7 per game. As of December 1, FanDuel lists him with the third-shortest MVP odds, trailing only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic.
Western Conference Player of the Week
The NBA recognized Doncic’s recent surge by naming him the Western Conference Player of the Week. His production carried the Lakers through a dominant three-game run in which they won each matchup by an average of 13 points. Over that stretch, he posted 37.3 points, 10.3 assists, and 8.7 rebounds per game.
Head coach JJ Redick praised his star guard, calling him “one of the greatest offensive engines to ever play basketball.” This is Doncic’s first full season in Los Angeles after spending his entire career with the Dallas Mavericks before last February’s blockbuster trade.
Defenses Have No Answers
Opposing teams continue to struggle with how to defend him. Austin Reaves explained the dilemma after the Lakers’ 133–121 win over the Pelicans. “The gravity that he has on the court, it’s impossible to guard him any certain way because [of] his ability to pass the ball, his unselfishness and his shot-making ability,” Reaves told the Los Angeles Times. When teams blitz him, the Lakers often get clean looks. “Then you have advantage basketball and we like our chances.”
The Lakers have benefited from that pressure. Their offense ranks among the most efficient in the league, with Doncic driving nearly every possession.
Can the Lakers Keep Rising?
Reaves believes the Lakers still have room to grow. The upcoming schedule will test that confidence, with road games against the Raptors, Celtics, and 76ers looming. Los Angeles will need its offense to stay sharp as the competition stiffens.
“We like our chances,” Reaves said. He added that the Lakers generated many strong looks despite some missed shots in their latest win. “We still scored 130. I still think this offense can go to another level.”
If Doncic keeps producing at this level, the Lakers’ ceiling may be even higher than their record suggests.
