LOS ANGELES -- While Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and James Harden came somewhat close, no NBA player has averaged 40 points per game in a season since Wilt Chamberlain in 1962-63.
Believe it or not, Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic is on pace through 10 games to surpass that historic benchmark thanks to his latest 50-point explosion.
Doncic poured in a season-high 53 points to lead the Lakers to a 124-118 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at Crypto.com Arena on Friday. The Slovenian star is averaging a career-high 40.1 points per game and is captaining the NBA's No. 1 offense.
"Luka can do some things that maybe a handful, if not no one, can do in basketball," Lakers coach JJ Redick said.
Chamberlain is the only player to score more than Doncic's 361 points through his first nine games in a season. The Hall of Fame center had 472 points through nine games in 1962-63 and 455 points in the 1961-62 season, according to ESPN Research.
Of course, Chamberlain went on to average a record 50.4 points per game in 1961-62 and 44.8 points per game in 1962-63. Jordan's 37.1 points per game in 1986-87 is the NBA's highest mark during the 3-point era. Harden's 36.1 points per game in 2018-19 was the most prolific scoring season of the 21st century. And Bryant's 35.4 points were the most by a Lakers player since the NBA/ABA merger in 1976.
Can Doncic, whose previous career-high is 33.9 points per game with the 2023-24 Dallas Mavericks, join Chamberlain in the 40-point club?
"It's obviously a long season," Doncic said. "We're 10 games in. We've got 72 left. As long as we're winning, I'm good. I got [the shots] up today, I'm not going to lie. Hopefully it continues, but you never know."
Doncic, 27, is taking full advantage of his new role as the undisputed face of the Lakers following James' offseason departure to the Philadelphia 76ers. Entering Friday, Doncic led the league in scoring, shot attempts, three-point attempts, free throw attempts, usage rate, player efficiency rating and win shares.
Against the Blazers, Doncic exceeded 40 points for the sixth time this season and topped 50 for the second time. He ranks tied for 10th all-time with 11 career 50-point games and is fifth among active players, trailing only Harden, Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard and James.
Doncic, whose 62-foot heave at the halftime buzzer keyed Friday's comeback win, joined Bryant, Elgin Baylor and George Mikan as the only Lakers to score at least 40 points in four consecutive games.
"[Doncic] is the MVP right now," Blazers coach Micah Nori said during his pregame comments. "Hands down."