Luka Doncic was chosen Western Conference Player of the Week after guiding the Dallas Mavericks to a three-game winning streak while Kyrie Irving was out.
Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks was selected Western Conference Player of the Week from December 11 to December 17. It is the first time he is received this honour this season, but it is the tenth of his career.
Doncic led the Mavericks to a 3-1 record in 41.0 minutes per game, averaging 36.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 11.5 assists, and 1.5 steals. His efficiency was excellent, as he shot 49.0 percent from the field, 35.9 percent from the perimeter, and 96.9 percent on free throws.
Doncic began his amazing week with a 120-113 away win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, finishing with 35 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. On the second night of a back-to-back, he led the team to a 127-125 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, scoring 33 points, grabbing six rebounds, and dishing out 17 assists.
The Mavericks’ sole setback this week came against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but Doncic finished with 39 points and 13 assists. He then went on to produce 40 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists in a road win over the Portland Trail Blazers, his eighth 40-point triple-double of the season and passed Wilt Chamberlain for fourth most in NBA history. As a result of this performance, he equaled James Harden for the fourth-most 30-point triple-doubles in league history.
Doncic had a powerful scoring performance early in the Mavericks’ win over the Blazers, scoring 30 points by halftime and going on to record his tenth consecutive game with 30 points or more. It marks the longest stretch of his career and a new team record, surpassing his previous best. Only 21 other NBA players have ever scored at least 30 points in ten consecutive games.
Doncic has had a great month of productivity in December, averaging 36.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 12.1 assists. During this time, he had three 35-point triple-doubles and became the first player in NBA history to have a 25-point triple-double before halftime.
Doncic has led the Mavericks to another championship, averaging 32.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game, the only player in the top five in both points and assists per game. Dallas is 16-9 heading into Monday’s game against the Denver Nuggets, with a 9-4 road record – the best in the NBA.
Since the start of the 2019-20 season, Doncic has won more Western Conference Player of the Week accolades than any other player. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was awarded Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the 12th time this season, is the only NBA player with more of this honour.
Aside from Dirk Nowitzki and now Doncic, no Mavericks player has been named Western Conference Player of the Week at least ten times. This week, Doncic surpassed Nowitzki for the most 35-point regular-season performances in franchise history, continuing his continual rewriting of the team record book.