Luka Doncic scored a season-high 53 points in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 124-118 win over the Portland Trail Blazers Friday night, joining Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to average at least 40 points through their first nine appearances of a season.
Doncic’s 40.1-point average trails only Chamberlain’s starts in 1962-63 and 1961-62, when he averaged 52.4 and 50.6 points, respectively. The comparison covers individual appearances, rather than all 10 games the Lakers have played.
ClutchPoints highlighted the milestone Saturday on X, formerly Twitter, sharing a broadcast graphic that illustrated Doncic’s place alongside Chamberlain.
The most PPG through the first 9 games by any player in NBA history 🔥
(1962-63) Wilt Chamberlain — 52.4
(1961-62) Wilt Chamberlain — 50.6
(2026-27) Luka Doncic — 40.1 pic.twitter.com/mNIAdoucAy— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 7, 2026
Doncic, 27, shot 17 of 33 from the field, including 5 of 15 from 3-point range, and made 14 of 18 free throws at Crypto.com Arena. He also contributed five rebounds and five assists.
The outing marked his 11th career 50-point game, tying Allen Iverson for 10th in NBA history. Four of those performances have come with the Lakers.
Article Continues BelowDoncic has dropped at least 40 points in six of his last seven games, including each of his last four. He joins Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant and George Mikan as the only Lakers with four consecutive 40-point regular-season games. Bryant last accomplished the feat in 2012.
Friday’s scoring burst helped Los Angeles erase a 16-point deficit against a Trail Blazers team that entered atop the Western Conference standings. Doncic scored 20 points in the third quarter, outscoring the Blazers’ entire team by five during the period.
The Slovenian superstar capped his 53-point performance with a jumper in the lane with 27 seconds left, sealing the Lakers’ comeback as they improved to 8-2 with their fourth straight win.