LOS ANGELES — The NBA on Monday named Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic the Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Jan. 19–25. Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley captured the award in the Eastern Conference.
The recognition is Doncic’s second since joining the Lakers and the 16th of his career.
Standout week
Over three games, the 26-year-old posted three consecutive 30-point outings, one of them a triple-double and the other two double-doubles. The Lakers went 2-1 during the stretch, securing road wins over the Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks.
Doncic averaged 34.3 points on 49.2 percent shooting, 10.7 rebounds, 9.7 assists and 2.0 steals in 38.0 minutes per game.
Record-setting performances
• Jan. 20 at Denver: 38 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists and two steals in 36 minutes. The effort marked his 52nd career 30-point triple-double, moving him past Nikola Jokic (51) for second most in league history. It was his fourth 30-point triple-double of the season, making him the third Laker—alongside LeBron James and Magic Johnson—to record at least four in one campaign.
• The same night, Doncic eclipsed 14,000 regular-season points, becoming the youngest point guard and the fifth-youngest player overall to reach the milestone.
• Jan. 22 vs. L.A. Clippers: 32 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and three steals in 39 minutes.
• Jan. 24 at Dallas: 33 points, eight rebounds, 11 assists, one steal and one block in 39 minutes. His fourth three-pointer of the evening was the 1,500th of his regular-season career, making him the youngest player in NBA history to hit that mark.
Teammate reaction
LeBron James said the guard’s second season in Los Angeles has brought a higher comfort level: “The biggest thing this year is just more comfortable—understanding the system, understanding the city, the city embracing him. He showed why he is who he is tonight.”
The Lakers resume play Wednesday when they host the Utah Jazz.
Source: LakersNation.com
