Luka Doncic Breaks Silence on His MVP-Worthy Start

Luka Doncic is off to a start that hasn't been seen since Wilt Chamberlain roamed the paint.

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar dropped 40 points, nine rebounds and seven assists Wednesday night against the Sacramento Kings.

The Lakers won 116-103 at Golden 1 Center.

Doncic shot 11-for-23 from the field, knocked down six 3-pointers and went 12-for-13 from the free-throw line.

It was his third straight game with 40 or more points.

It was his fifth 40-point game of the season.

Through eight games, Doncic has totaled 408 points — the most by any player to start a season since Chamberlain scored 418 in the 1962-63 campaign.

Chamberlain averaged 44.8 points per game that year.

Doncic is currently averaging 38.5 points per game on 49.5 percent shooting.

He leads the NBA in scoring by a wide margin.

He also leads the league in 3-pointers made.

He ranks third in assists.

And he's doing it all with career-high efficiency — in field goal percentage, 3-point percentage and free throw percentage.

HISTORIC STRETCH

Doncic became the first player in NBA history to record at least 35 points, five rebounds, five assists and five 3-pointers made in six consecutive games.

That streak started on Oct. 26 and continued through Wednesday night.

Quentin Grimes, Doncic's Lakers teammate, called the experience 'surreal.'

"It's surreal to watch him perform at this level," Grimes said.

THE SECRET BEHIND THE START

After Wednesday's win, reporters asked Doncic if he was already in mid-season form or still finding his rhythm.

Doncic said it's too early to tell — the season is only in its third week.

But then he revealed where his dominance is coming from.

"I don't know, honestly," Doncic said via Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times.

"Too early to tell, you know. But as I go back, I had the whole summer to recover. A lot of stuff that I couldn't do in the last maybe eight years. So that's where the energy is coming from."

Doncic missed the playoffs last season due to injury.

He did not suit up for Slovenia in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.

Instead, he spent the summer recovering and spending time with his two daughters.

For a player who has been on the go since entering the league at age 19, that full offseason was a rare luxury.

Doncic said the extra rest is the source of his energy.

THE FAN INCIDENT

Wednesday's game also featured a moment that drew attention beyond the box score.

Late in the third quarter, a fan threw the ball back onto the court with excessive force after it was knocked out of bounds.

The ball hit referee Chelisa Painter.

Doncic saw what happened and immediately said something to the fan.

The fan was later escorted out of the arena.

After the game, Doncic explained what he said.

"He just tossed it really strong — the ball — toward the ref," Doncic said via Anthony Slater of ESPN.

"I just asked him what the hell he's doing."

Doncic finished with 40 points in that game.

Austin Reaves added 21 points for the Lakers.

The Lakers improved to 7-2 on the season.

THE MVP RACE

Doncic has cemented himself as an early MVP favorite.

Basketball Reference's MVP Tracker lists Doncic at No. 1.

Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs is No. 2.

Alperen Sengun is third, followed by Tyrese Maxey and Stephen Curry.

But the betting odds tell a slightly different story.

According to Kalshi, Doncic is the second-favorite to win MVP, just behind Wembanyama.

Other candidates include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jayson Tatum, Nikola Jokic, Tyrese Maxey and Cade Cunningham.

Wembanyama dropped a warning shot on the same night as Doncic's latest 40-point game.

The Spurs star put up 52 points, 24 rebounds and eight blocks against the Dallas Mavericks.

That performance swung the MVP narrative in some corners.

One Yahoo Sports headline read: "Luka Doncic Has No Chance It's Over — NBA World Swings MVP Narrative in Victor Wembanyama's Favor After Mammoth 52-24 Game With 8 Blocks."

But Doncic's consistency and the Lakers' strong start keep him in the conversation.

The Lakers are 7-2.

Doncic is averaging 38.5 points per game.