Luka Doncic Named Western Conference Player of the Week After Dominant Stretch
Luka Doncic is heating up at just the right time-and the league is taking notice. The NBA named the Lakers star the Western Conference Player of the Week for games played from Jan. 19 through Jan. 25, recognizing a stretch where Doncic reminded everyone exactly why he's one of the most gifted players in the game today. Over in the East, Toronto’s Immanuel Quickley took home the honors, but in the West, this week belonged to Luka.
This marks the second time Doncic has earned the weekly honor since arriving in Los Angeles and the 16th of his career. And if his recent performances are any indication, it won’t be the last.
In three games, Doncic averaged a staggering 34.3 points on 49.2% shooting, along with 10.7 rebounds, 9.7 assists, and 2.0 steals per game-all while logging 38 minutes a night. The Lakers went 2-1 in that stretch, including tough road wins over the Nuggets and Mavericks. But it wasn’t just the numbers-it was the way he controlled the game, the way he made the Lakers’ offense hum, and the way he rose to the moment, especially in Denver.
That Jan. 20 win over the Nuggets was vintage Luka. He poured in 38 points, grabbed 13 boards, dished out 10 assists, and swiped two steals in just 36 minutes.
It was his 52nd career 30-point triple-double, pushing him past Nikola Jokic (51) for second all-time in that category. That’s elite company, and Luka’s not just joining the club-he’s rewriting the guest list.
It was also his fourth 30-point triple-double of the season, making him just the third player in Lakers history to notch at least four in a single campaign. The other two?
LeBron James and Magic Johnson. That’s the kind of company that gets your jersey in the rafters.
And the milestones didn’t stop there. In that same game, Doncic crossed the 14,000-point threshold for his regular season career, becoming the youngest point guard in NBA history to reach that mark-and the fifth youngest player overall. That’s not just production; that’s pace-setting stuff.
Even in a loss to the Clippers, Doncic didn’t let up. He posted 32 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, and three steals in 39 minutes-a performance that would be a headline night for most players, but just another day at the office for Luka.
He closed the week with a statement game against his former team, the Dallas Mavericks. In a 33-point, 8-rebound, 11-assist outing, Doncic once again showed why he’s one of the most complete offensive players in the league.
Oh, and he also hit a major milestone-his 1,500th career regular season three-pointer, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to reach that mark. The range, the rhythm, the confidence-he’s got it all.
LeBron Sees Luka Taking Ownership in Year Two
As Luka settles into his second season in Los Angeles, his leadership and comfort level are becoming more and more evident-and his teammates are noticing. LeBron James, who knows a thing or two about adjusting to the spotlight in L.A., sees a different Luka this year.
“The most important thing is just his comfort,” LeBron said. “Obviously when you get traded mid-season and him spending his first seven or eight years here, it was a shock to everybody. But I think the biggest thing this year is just more comfortable-understanding the system, understanding the city, the city embracing him.”
LeBron didn’t stop there. “Him understanding that this is his team, so we’re all rallying around him.
We know it’s kind of an emotional, big game when you come back and play your former team. And he showed why he is who he is tonight.”
That’s the key-this is Luka’s team now. And with performances like these, he’s not just leading the Lakers-he’s making a serious case to be in the MVP conversation.
Doncic is doing what stars do: stacking wins, breaking records, and making it all look effortless. The Lakers are surging, and Luka is at the center of it all.