Lakers’ Luka Dončić Surpasses Michael Jordan, Trails Only Wilt Chamberlain On Historic List
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić has wasted no time etching his name into the annals of NBA lore this season, pouring in 200 points across his first five games of 2025-26 season. It’s a number that slots Luka third all-time behind only Wilt Chamberlain’s twin explosions of 264 and 256 from the early 1960s.
Luka has been utterly dominant this year. His most recent masterclass featured 35 points, 13 assists, nine rebounds, five steals and two blocks in a win over the San Antonio Spurs. No player in the history of the NBA has achieved that exact stat line.
Luka is shooting 50 percent from the field in 39 minutes per game. To go along with his 40 PPG figure, he’s averaging 11.0 rebounds and 9.2 assists per game.
Chamberlain’s untouchable hauls from 1961 and 1962 came in a faster-paced era with fewer teams, but Dončić’s total eclipses Michael Jordan’s 197 from 1986, when the Chicago phenom was just emerging as a force.
Meanwhile, the Lakers’ unexpected early dominance adds layers to Dončić’s story. With LeBron James sidelined by sciatica since training camp—his return eyed for mid-November at earliest—the team has leaned on Dončić’s heroics alongside Austin Reaves’ continually rising star power.
The Lakers are about to undergo a five-game road trip, which begins Saturday in Atlanta. If Luka sustains this clip in the days to come—and early signs suggest he will—expect more records to crumble. Dončić’s arrival in LA last year was one of the most shocking developments in NBA history. Now that Luka has had some time to get comfortable with his new team, he’s playing at a level that makes the Lakers contenders — with or without LeBron.