Luka Doncic, Lakers
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Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers is targeting a return on Christmas Day.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic sscored 36 points en route to a 120–114 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night. But that wasn’t the only storyline from the game.
With his performance, Doncic passed the great Wilt Chamberlain for 11th all-time in franchise history for the most 35-plus-point games, with 17.
Doncic, 26, still has a ways to go before moving into the top spot. That mark is held by the late Kobe Bryant, who recorded 236 over his 20 seasons with the Lakers. However, it’s possible Doncic could move into the top 10 by the end of this season. He needs two more to tie Magic Johnson, though there’s a sizable jump after that.
Gail Goodrich, who played for the Lakers in the early 1970s, is ninth on the list with 37. Eighth is Anthony Davis, who was part of the blockbuster trade between the Dallas Mavericks and Lakers that sent Doncic to Los Angeles.
Rounding out the rest of the list are George Mikan, current Lakers teammate LeBron James, and a slew of NBA Hall of Famers in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, and Bryant.
A Look Back at Luka Doncic’s Time With the Lakers
Luka Doncic
GettyLuka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers leads in the fan voting for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.
Doncic is in his second season with the Lakers after being traded by the Mavericks in a shocking move in the middle of the 2024–25 season. The former third overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft had played his entire career with the Mavs before being sent to Southern California.
The seventh-year star has scored at least 30 points in each of his last four games and has scored more than 40 points six times. He is in the midst of arguably the best season of his career, averaging 33.6 points, 8.7 assists, and 8.1 rebounds per game. He leads the league in points per game. His previous career best was 33.9 during the 2023–24 season, his last full season with the Mavericks.
Doncic’s success hasn’t meant just individual success. He has led the Lakers to a 22–11 record with James missing most of the season. Los Angeles is currently in third place in the Western Conference standings, 6.5 games out of first place behind the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs.
What’s Next for the Lakers This Season?
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 14: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers talks with head coach JJ Redick during the first half of the NBA preseason game against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 14, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Images)
GettyLuka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers talks with head coach JJ Redick
The Lakers have won two straight after back-to-back games against the Grizzlies. This has helped turn the corner from a rough end to the 2025 calendar year, when they lost four of their final five games in December. Doncic has led the team in scoring in each of its last five games, and eight of the last 10, with James being the only other high scorer during that stretch.
However, with a now seemingly fully healthy James, the Lakers are in prime position for a run into the second half of the season.
Los Angeles has road contests against the New Orleans Pelicans and the up-and-coming Spurs before hosting the Milwaukee Bucks. The Lakers will need to work quickly if they want to chip away at the Thunder’s lead in the West.