Luka Doncic is under more scrutiny than ever now that he is the top guy on the Los Angeles Lakers, but he is still posting huge numbers during what is a potential MVP campaign. The 26-year-old reached a notable NBA milestone against the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night. He eclipsed 4,000 career assists, per Dan Woike of The Athletic, further cementing himself as one of the best playmakers of his era.
If Doncic can maintain this pace and stay on the court at a reasonable rate, he should own a prominent place on the all-time dimes list when all is said and done. No. 77 should not look ahead, though. He and the Lakers are focused on contending for Western Conference glory, especially in what could be LeBron James' final year in LA and in The Association. The team was unable to push that ultimate goal forward in the Intuit Dome, falling to the Clippers, 112-104.
Doncic remains streaky from 3-point range — 3-of-13 in this game — but he was impactful overall. The five-time All-NBA First-Team selection scored a game-high 32 points on 11-of-27 shooting to go with 11 rebounds, eight assists and three steals. On the 20th anniversary of Kobe Bryant's legendary 81-point performance, Doncic did his best to post his own Lakers masterpiece.
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The sensational guard should have time to appreciate his big accomplishment, but he also understands that team success takes priority. His elite playmaking serves the purpose of elevating an injury-hampered LA squad (still missing Austin Reaves). The Purple and Gold still have things to figure out, though.
Los Angeles is trying to obtain consistency this season, something that is mighty difficult without one of its core players. Even so, the Lakers (26-17) are only a half-game behind the fourth-place Houston Rockets. A healthy Luka Doncic should keep them in the hunt.
Leading in points per game (33.5) and ranking third in assists per game (8.7), the Slovenian superstar will be tasked with boosting LA back into the win column on Saturday. A meeting with his old team, the Dallas Mavericks (19-26), should give him even more motivation.