Giannis Antetokounmpo has offered high praise to fellow All-Star Luka Dončić after the Los Angeles Lakers star went on another scoring tear on Monday night.
Scoring Prowess and Historic Numbers
Dončić scored 42 points in the Lakers’ 138-117 win over Antetokounmpo’s Heat to bring the Slovene’s scoring average this season to 38.3 points per game, the best in the NBA.
“Obviously, he’s one of the best scorers to play this game, if not the best,” Antetokounmpo stated. Antetokounmpo was asked to clarify his answer and replied: “Not right now. Of all time. I feel like some people are scared to say that, but he’s got to be up there.”
Dončić’s career scoring average of 29.35 points per game trails only those of Michael Jordan at 30.12 and Wilt Chamberlain at 30.07. He ranks 165th on the all-time points list with 15,289 points, though he is still only 27 years old.
Recent Performances and Teammate Reactions
The Lakers hold a 6-2 record to start the season, and Dončić is averaging 43.4 points over his last five games.
“It just feels almost anything he shoots, whether it’s a circus shot or regular step-back three, or it’s a tough floater, it just seems like everything he’s shooting is going to go in,” Dončić’s Lakers teammate Quentin Grimes explained. “I don’t think I’ve ever been on the court when everything somebody shoots, you think it’s going in. So, kind of crazy little heater he’s on for sure.”
Dončić also contributed 13 assists and seven rebounds in Monday’s victory.
