The Los Angeles Lakers are off to a fantastic start this season. They are riding a seven-game win streak into Monday night, and sit 15-4 on the season. Their record is good for second place in the Western Conference, behind only the juggernaut that is the Oklahoma City Thunder.
LeBron James has played in just four of the team’s 19 games this season, so he is not the man leading the Lakers to a great start. But he does not have to be anymore. With Luka Doncic on the team, James can take on a lesser role, while still helping the Lakers win. Keeping that in mind, Doncic is playing at an MVP level right now.
This past week was par for the course for the 26-year-old. Luka averaged 37.3 points per game, 8.7 rebounds, and 10.3 assists. This helped Los Angeles beat the Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, and New Orleans Pelicans all by double digits. As a result of his dominance last week, Doncic was named Western Conference Player of the Week by the NBA.
Luka Doncic Is Playing at an MVP Level Right Now
GettyLuka Doncic was named Western Conference Player of the Week.
Luka Doncic’s week was not an outlier for him. The former first-round pick is averaging 35.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per game on the season as a whole. He has scored at least 30 points in 11 games this season, including six straight.
He has yet to win the MVP award, but this could be the season he does it. In the past, Doncic has had to compete with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. This year, Doncic is outplaying each of those players and every other player in the league.
The 6-foot-8 guard leads the NBA in points per game, and he is second in usage percentage. The Lakers lean on Doncic to lead the team, and he is not backing down from the challenge. In fact, he is on track to finish with a career-high in points per game. Doncic has scored over 30 points per game two times in his career, and this season could be the third time.
The Duo That is Doncic and Austin Reaves
GettyAustin Reaves is having a breakout season.
Doncic is not alone on the court, though. He has James to turn to when he needs it, but Austin Reaves has been the surprise of the season. Reaves is averaging 28.8 points per game and has been the perfect complement to Doncic. In fact, Doncic and Reaves became the first Lakers duo in 50 years to score at least 30 points each in three consecutive games.
Heading into Monday night, the pair is the highest-scoring duo in the NBA. They combine to average 63.9 points per game, while the Lakers average 119.6 points as a team. As long as these two stay healthy, the Lakers are going to be one of the top seeds in the Western Conference.
Los Angeles will take on the Phoenix Suns at home on Monday night. The Lakers then hit the road for a three-game road trip to finish the week.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Luka Doncic Dominates, Earns Western Conference Player of the Week appeared first on Heavy Sports.