Real Madrid Professional Athletes

Luka Doncic Is Breaking 63-Year-Old Records and Still Can't Win an Argument

No Laker has done what Luka Doncic just did — not Kobe, not Shaq, not Kareem — and that's not hyperbole. It's history.

The Real Madrid product turned in one of the most jaw-dropping opening weeks a Laker has ever produced, going 52-41-37 across three games and dismantling franchise record books that have stood for decades.

52 Points and Six Legends Toppled

The week opened on Sunday, Oct. 25, with Doncic going full scorched-earth against the Utah Jazz. His 52-point, 10-assist, 8-rebound line in a 132–123 Lakers win wasn't just dominant — it was historically rare. According to The Sporting News, Doncic broke records previously held by LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shaquille O'Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Elgin Baylor in the process. Heavy Sports reported that no Laker had accomplished what Doncic did that night in 63 years. Sports Illustrated noted he surpassed multiple Lakers legends in the same outing.

He followed that up Wednesday against Portland — 41 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds in 36 minutes, though the Lakers dropped that one 129–136 to the Trail Blazers.

NBA Cup, One Viral Ankle, and a Loss

Friday's NBA Cup matchup at Chase Center against Golden State offered a different kind of drama. Doncic posted 37 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, including a history-making moment per ClutchPoints — but the Warriors stormed back from 25 down to win 112–95. The night's defining highlight wasn't a Doncic bucket; it was a Stephen Curry ankle-breaker that sent Doncic to the floor and set Chase Center ablaze. Curry called the move "nasty." Doncic, per The Sporting News, took accountability for the collapse afterward.

Despite the loss, ClutchPoints reported that Doncic joined Kobe Bryant in Lakers history with a feat from the same game — a testament to how elite his numbers have been even in defeat.

MVP Buzz Meets Its Loudest Skeptic

Three games. 130 combined points. Player of the Week nomination. And yet Draymond Green remains unimpressed — or at least unconvinced. The Warriors forward doubled down on his take that Doncic will never win an MVP award, per both ClutchPoints and Yahoo Sports. Former NBA champion Channing Frye piled on, questioning whether Doncic's style of play can lead to a title.

The noise hasn't stopped — it's getting louder. Heavy Sports noted that despite Doncic's MVP-level start, the Lakers' defensive concerns (tied to the Walker Kessler trade) loom as a potential ceiling on the team's contention window.

For now, one thing is clear: the kid who came up through Real Madrid's academy is doing things in a Lakers uniform that franchise legends couldn't. That's not nothing. That's the whole conversation.

Luka Dončić didn't ease into his Lakers era — he announced it. The Real Madrid product went 2-0 in his first week in Los Angeles, delivering a pair of commanding performances that have already reignited the league's most persistent debate: is this finally his MVP year?

Opening Night Statement

The Lakers' season opener against Golden State on October 22 wasn't close. Dončić dropped 28 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals in just 29 minutes as Los Angeles blew out the Warriors 127-105. His plus-minus of +31 told the full story — when he was on the floor, the game was essentially over.

The blowout, however, generated a subplot that quickly overshadowed the box score. Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg engaged in a back-and-forth trash talk exchange with Dončić throughout the night, later claiming he "lost all respect" for the six-time All-Star. Dončić reportedly labeled Lendeborg an "old rookie" — a dig at the 24-year-old's age. A lip-reading breakdown of the full exchange circulated widely after the game. Lendeborg doubled down on Saturday, telling reporters he isn't intimidated by Dončić because "he's not Michael Jordan." The rookie saga became the most-discussed storyline of opening week, a back-handed compliment to just how thoroughly Dončić dominated the game itself.

Going Back-to-Back

Two days later, Dončić kept rolling. The Lakers hosted the Clippers on October 24 in a first meeting that carried some extra edge — former Laker Rui Hachimura was on the other side — and Dončić delivered again: 23 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, a block, and a +10 in 37 minutes. Los Angeles won 125-117 to move to 2-0. After the game, Dončić didn't hold back in praising new teammate Walker Kessler, calling the center "unbelievable" — a vote of confidence that underscores the Lakers' belief that their offseason reshaping has put them in genuine title contention.

The MVP Noise

The quick 2-0 start has poured fuel onto an MVP conversation that was already burning before tip-off. Yahoo Sports flagged Dončić as a legitimate MVP candidate entering the season, and the Lakers' organizational buy-in — building the roster specifically around him — only raises the stakes.

The most prominent dissenting voice? Draymond Green, who has argued repeatedly that "greatness fatigue" will keep Dončić from ever claiming the award. Green went as far as declaring this season Dončić's "last possible year" to win it, while publicly backing Jalen Brunson as his MVP pick. It's the kind of bulletin-board material that Dončić's camp almost certainly doesn't mind having.

One week in, the Real Madrid alumnus has the Lakers undefeated, a buzzing rivalry with a rookie who won't back down, and a former Warrior loudly campaigning against him. For Dončić, there's no better script for a season opener.