Published 11/25/2022, 6:00 PM EST
If there is one man who is conquering the basketball world, it might just be Luka Doncic. The 23-year-old wonderkid of the Dallas Mavericks has made it a knack to go after the record books. Recently, he beat out Michael Jordan after a eight-game streak of scoring 30 points or more. Likewise, Doncic has asserted himself in the MVP conversation. However, the current leading scorer does much more than just put the ball through the hoop. Notably, after leaving His Airness behind, Luka Magic did the same with LeBron James.
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After 19 years in the NBA, the King is arguably on course to beat the most celebrated record in NBA history this season. The Los Angeles Lakers forward is just over 1000 points away from the all-time scoring record held by Kareem-Abdul Jabbar for over three decades. James’s unreal consistency and complete ability has his name in most of the records. Even as a youngster, the 18-time All-Star was one of the brightest prospects.
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In just 311 games, the Akron Hammer joined Oscar Robertson as the second-quickest player to record 7000+ points, 2000+ rebounds, and the same number of assists. However, that was until the arrival of Luka Doncic would change the way records look.
Luka Doncic beats out LeBron James in recent feat
Apart from a bag full of tricks, Luka Doncic has an eye for sharing the basketball. Often filling up the stat sheet, the 23-year-old is already recorded 50 triple-doubles, the 10th most in the history of the game. The Slovenian superstar often pulls off the craziest passes while regularly scoring the ball and grabbing rebounds. Likewise, in just his fourth season, Doncic became the second-fastest player to reach 7k points, 2k rebounds, and 2k assists, beating out LeBron James.
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He achieved the feat in just 280 games, falling only behind Hall of Famer, Oscar Roberston. To the foreign eyes, it was another dent Doncic made in the history books in his young career. However, the basketball fanatics were left unimpressed by his achievement. Notably, they belittled his victory over the King calling him a ‘ball hog’.
But what is the real reason behind fans being unimpressed with Doncic achieving another milestone?
Why Luka Magic’s recent achievement isn’t as talked about
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There is no question about the unique ability that Doncic possesses. He is arguably one of the most complete players in the modern NBA. However, a major reason for his occurrence in such a record is his historic usage rate. To put it into perspective, LeBron James‘ career-high usage rate was 33.7 in 2009, a mark Doncic surpasses in his second season. Moreover, Luka Magic started this season with a usage rate of 39.14%, the third-highest in NBA history. Even Dallas Mavericks coach showed concern about his heavy involvement in games.
Nov 20, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) cheers on the Mavericks from the team bench during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
As the front and center of the Dallas offense, Doncic is often the one carrying the ball up the court. While he is a special talent, his franchise relies much on him to deliver on the offensive end. The numbers go to show just how much is asked to do every single night. The fact that the 23-year-old is able to deliver on the expectations makes him a freak of nature. But that is also a major reason for his recent feat.
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Do you think Doncic would beat the King if it wasn’t for a high usage rate? Let us know your views in the comments below.