Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic has etched his name alongside franchise legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the NBA record books. After dropping 52 points in a 132-123 win over the Utah Jazz on October 25, Doncic now has 10 career regular-season 50-point games, tying Abdul-Jabbar for 11th most in league history. The league announced the milestone ahead of the Lakers' recent 103-87 victory over the LA Clippers on October 28, which pushed their record to 4-1.
The NBA communications department confirmed the tie with Abdul-Jabbar in a social media post. Doncic's scoring outburst against the Jazz was his third 50-point game since joining the Lakers. It also marked his 10th such performance overall. That 52-point effort wasn't an isolated feat. He also passed LeBron James for sixth on the Lakers' all-time list for 40-point games.
Perhaps more telling is the speed of his accumulation. Doncic needed just 95 games to score 3,000 points as a Laker, setting a new franchise record. George Mikan did it in 106 games, while James took 114. Through three games this 2026-27 season, Doncic is averaging a league-leading 34.3 points. He's also dishing out 8.0 assists per game and hitting 5.0 threes a night.
Doncic's scorching start has solidified his status as a top MVP candidate. Before the season, he wasn't in the top three favorites, a shift from his usual preseason standing. His recent play has changed that. His usage rate of 41.8% leads the NBA, showing how central he is to everything the Lakers do on offense.
The team's 4-1 record, built on a WLWWW run in their last five, supports his case. That stretch includes wins over the Clippers (twice), Warriors, and Jazz, with a single 129-136 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on October 27. Leading the league in scoring while propelling the Lakers to the top of the Western Conference is a powerful MVP argument.
The Lakers carry strong momentum into their next contest, a road game against the Golden State Warriors on October 30. Their recent form, including that dominant 103-87 win over the Clippers, shows a team finding its rhythm early. Doncic's historic individual production is the engine. If he maintains this pace, both individual awards and team success are within reach. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming schedule on our schedule page.
His connection with the Lakers' legacy is growing fast. Tying a record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar so early in his tenure with the franchise signals a special era. And with the team winning, the narrative around Doncic and the Lakers is only getting stronger.
