In a league where historic moments are as common as turnovers in a rookie-led backcourt, Luka Doncic is rewriting the record books in ways that even the most optimistic Lakers fans couldn’t have scripted. The Slovenian sensation, now firmly entrenched as the purple-and-gold’s cornerstone after his blockbuster trade to Los Angeles last summer, has wasted no time elevating the franchise to new heights. But it’s not just his scoring explosions that have the NBA world buzzing—it’s his refreshingly candid, self-deprecating humor that’s turning heads and sparking laughs across the league.
Doncic’s scorching start to the 2025-26 season reached another fever pitch on Friday night in Memphis, where the Lakers staged a thrilling comeback victory over the Grizzlies, 118-112. The 26-year-old guard erupted for 44 points, capping off his third consecutive 40-point outing to open the campaign. In doing so, he etched his name alongside the immortal Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to achieve such a feat at the dawn of a season. Chamberlain, of course, was a scoring machine in an era of fewer defenders and looser rules, but Doncic? He’s doing it in the modern game, against zone defenses, athletic wings, and analytics-driven schemes that make every bucket feel like a minor miracle.
The feat wasn’t lost on Doncic himself, who downplayed the milestone with his trademark blend of humility and wit after the game. “I mean, I feel great,” he told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, a sly grin betraying his exhaustion from carrying the Lakers’ offense through a gritty road test. “But obviously, if we get a win, I feel even better. So that’s the whole point—trying to help the team to win. And sometimes it’s going to be scoring, sometimes other things.”
Yet, in a moment that’s already going viral on social media, Doncic dropped a hilarious bombshell when pressed on the possibility of sustaining this blistering pace. Reporters, sensing a chance to probe deeper into his potential to chase Chamberlain’s legendary 50.4 points-per-game average from the 1961-62 season—the only 40-plus PPG mark in NBA annals—leaned in. Could Luka be the second man to crack that barrier?
His response? Pure, unfiltered Luka magic. “That’s going to be tough,” he admitted with a chuckle, shaking his head as if recounting a bad dream. “Sometimes they’re going to double me more. Sometimes I won’t be able to score that much. I had, I think, three or four shots that were crazy shots that I felt like doing, but they were terrible shots… I’ve got to work on that. But that’s tough. I don’t know.”
Terrible shots? From Luka Doncic? The man who turns step-back threes into poetry and fadeaways into folk songs? It’s the kind of shocking self-roast that endears him even more to fans, reminding everyone that beneath the MVP-caliber wizardry lies a player who’s as human as he is superhuman. In a post-game clip that’s racked up over 2 million views on X (formerly Twitter), fans couldn’t get enough: “Luka calling his own daggers ‘terrible’ is peak comedy,” one user quipped, while another added, “Chamberlain who? Give this man the keys to the record books… and a shooting coach for those ‘crazy’ bricks lol.”
For the Lakers, who paired Doncic with LeBron James in a dream duo that’s already terrorizing the Western Conference, this hot start is more than just box-score filler—it’s validation of their bold offseason gamble. After years of flirting with contention but falling short, Los Angeles now boasts a backcourt that blends James’ veteran savvy with Doncic’s youthful flair. Friday’s win, a 22-point rally from the brink of defeat, showcased exactly why: Doncic’s 44 points came on 16-of-28 shooting, including five threes and a game-sealing and-one drive in the fourth quarter. But it was his vision—dishing out 12 assists amid the chaos—that truly unlocked the Lakers’ depth, with Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura feasting on kickouts.
James, ever the mentor, pulled Doncic aside postgame for a quick dap and a whisper that had the young star beaming. Speaking to the media earlier in the week, LeBron himself dropped some “exciting personal news” that’s got Tinseltown abuzz: He’s launching a production arm focused on NBA docs, with Doncic tabbed as the star of the flagship series. “Luka’s not just changing the game—he’s changing lives,” James said. “Watching him grow? That’s the real highlight reel.”
Of course, no historic run is without its hurdles. The Grizzlies, led by a snarling Ja Morant and a swarming frontcourt, tested Doncic like few teams have early on. Memphis doubled him relentlessly in the first half, forcing turnovers and contested bricks that had Lakers Nation holding its collective breath. But that’s where Doncic’s “terrible shots” become legend: a 28-footer over two defenders to tie the game, a twisting layup through traffic that defied physics. As he put it, “A tough shot for me isn’t the same tough shot for everybody.” And boy, does that ring true.
As the Lakers return home to face the Clippers on Monday, all eyes will be on whether Doncic can extend this streak—or if reality (and those pesky doubles) catches up. Either way, his hilarious admission serves as a reminder: Even the greats have off nights, bad shots, and doubts. What sets Luka apart? He owns them with a laugh, then drops 44 anyway.
In a season already teeming with superteams and storylines, Doncic’s Lakers saga feels like the stuff of Hollywood scripts. Chamberlain’s ghost might be smiling somewhere, but it’s Luka who’s got the league—and us—hooked on every unreal twist.