Luka Doncic Named Western Conf Player of the Week
DALLAS – The NBA announced that Mavericks guard Luka Dončić was named the Western Conference Player of the Week for games played from Monday, Dec. 11 through Sunday, Dec. 17. It marks the first time this season and the 10th time in his career that he has received the honor.
Dončić (6-7, 230) led the Mavericks to a 3-1 week with averages of 36.8 points (.490 FG%, .359 3FG%, .969 FT%), 8.0 rebounds, 11.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 41.0 minutes per game.
After racking up 35 points, eight rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks in the Mavericks’ 120-113 win at Memphis on Dec. 11, Dončić went for 33 points, six rebounds and 17 assists in a 127-125 win over the L.A. Lakers the next night on Dec. 12.
The 24-year-old tied Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki (78) for the most 35-point games in Mavericks history with 39-point, six-rebound, 13-assist outing against Minnesota on Dec. 14. He then passed Nowitzki for the most 35-point games in a Dallas uniform with a 40-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist performance in the team’s 131-120 win over Portland on Dec. 16.
The 40-point triple-double was the eighth of Dončić’s career and he passed Wilt Chamberlain (7) for the fourth-most 40-point triple-doubles in NBA history. He also notched his 35th career 30-point triple-double against the Trail Blazers, moving him into a tie with James Harden for the fourth-most 30-point triple-doubles in league history.
Dončić, who had 30 points at halftime of the team’s win at Portland, has now scored 30-plus points in a franchise-best 10 consecutive games (35.6 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 10.6 apg in that stretch). He is now one of 22 players in league history to record a streak of 10-or-more consecutive 30-point outings.
During the month of December, Dončić has recorded three 35-point triple-doubles and is averaging 36.4 points, 9.0 rebounds and 12.1 assists during that stretch. He became the first player in NBA history to produce a 25-point triple-double in a single half when he went for 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in the opening half of the club’s 50-point victory (147-97) over Utah on Dec. 6.
For the season, the four-time All-Star is averaging a team-high 32.7 points (second in the NBA), a team-high 8.3 rebounds and a team-best 9.1 assists (fourth in the NBA). Dončić has led Dallas to a 16-9 start (third in the Western Conference), including an NBA-best 9-4 mark on the road.
Dončić’s 10 career Player of the Week awards have all come since 2019-20, the most by any Western Conference player over the past five seasons and second-most by any player overall during that stretch (Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo has earned 12). He joins Nowitzki (16) as the only Mavericks to garner the award 10-or-more times.
