Luka Doncic Scores 10,000 Points and 50 in Mavs' Christmas Day Win
Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks reached two major milestones in the team's Christmas Day game against the Phoenix Suns.
Doncic's 10K Point and 50-Point Game Feat
Luka Doncic, the superstar of the Dallas Mavericks, achieved two significant milestones in a single game against the Phoenix Suns on Christmas Day. Doncic entered the game just 11 points away from reaching 10,000 career points. He accomplished this in the first quarter, becoming the player to do so in the fewest games since Michael Jordan. Additionally, Doncic became only the fourth player in NBA history to score 50 points in a Christmas Day game. His impressive performance led the Mavericks to a 128-114 victory.
"Always, when this kind [of] award comes with a win, it's even more fun," said Doncic, who also recorded 15 assists, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 blocks. "It was a tough road game, and we won. So, outside of the 10K and 50 points, we won the game. So, I'm really happy."
By achieving a 50-point game on Christmas, Doncic joined the exclusive company of Bernard King, Wilt Chamberlain, and Rick Barry. This marked the sixth 50-point game of Doncic's career, putting him behind only Michael Jordan and LeBron James for the most by a player before turning 25 since the ABA-NBA merger.
Doncic's Journey to 10,000 Points
Luka Doncic reached the milestone of 10,000 career points in only 358 games, tying with Hall of Famer Bob McAdoo for the seventh-fewest games needed to accomplish this feat. Wilt Chamberlain holds the record for the fewest games needed, achieving it in just 236 games. The other players who reached 10,000 points in fewer games than Doncic are Michael Jordan, Elgin Baylor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson, and George Gervin.
At 24 years and 300 days old, Doncic became the sixth-youngest player to surpass 10,000 points. The players ahead of him in this category are LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, and Tracy McGrady.
Doncic made the milestone shot with a 34-foot 3-pointer in the first quarter. This basket marked his longest field goal of the season. He finished the game with an impressive shooting performance, going 15-of-25 from the floor, 8-of-16 from 3-point range, and a perfect 12-of-12 from the free-throw line.
Doncic's All-Around Dominance
In addition to his scoring achievements, Doncic showcased his all-around skills in the game against the Suns. He contributed 15 assists, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 blocks. Doncic's impact was especially felt in the fourth quarter when the Suns made a comeback from a 15-point deficit to take the lead. Doncic scored 10 points and provided five assists in the final quarter, matching Phoenix's total points for the period.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd praised Doncic's performance and highlighted the importance of getting him the ball when he's in peak form. Doncic's teammates also recognized his exceptional ability to score and facilitate for others. The game against the Suns marked the continuation of Doncic's outstanding month, where he has averaged 37.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 11.6 assists in December.
Despite his offensive prowess, Doncic jokingly expressed disappointment that his defensive performance was not mentioned during his postgame news conference. He playfully claimed to be a candidate for second-team NBA All-Defensive honors and highlighted the importance of his steals and blocks in the game.
