Lakers' Luka Doncic Reacts to Joining Wilt Chamberlain to Make Exclusive NBA History

Unknown date; Atlanta, GA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Los Angeles Lakers center Wilt Chamberlain (13) is defended by Atlanta Hawks center Walt Bellamy (8) during the 1972-73 season at The Omni. Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-Imagn Images | Manny Rubio-Imagn Images

After notching 44 points in a 117-112 road win against the Memphis Grizzlies, five-time All-NBA First Team Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic has joined former Hall of Fame Lakers champion center Wilt Chamberlain as the only other play to score 40 or more points across each of his first three games in a given season.

Chamberlain scored 40 or more points across his first five games of the 1961-62 NBA season, while he was on his hometown then-Philadelphia Warriors, then followed that up with seven straight 40-plus-point games to kick off the 1962-63 season after the club had moved west to become the San Francisco Warriors.

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After winning three straight MVP honors and his first title with the Philadelphia 76ers, the 7-foot-1 Kansas product joined the Jerry West/Elgin Baylor/Gail Goodrich Lakers ahead of the 1968-69 season, and would play his last five years at the Forum.

Chamberlain tamped down his prolific scoring alongside West and Baylor, ultimately averaging 17.7 points on 60.5 percent shooting from the floor and 47.5 percent shooting from the free throw line, 19.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists for Los Angeles. The Lakers appeared in four NBA Finals during Chamberlain's tenure there, winning in 1972.

Per ESPN's Dave McMenamin, Doncic reflected on the big achievement.

“I mean, I feel great,” Doncic said. “But obviously, if we get a win, I feel even better. So that’s the whole point, trying to help the team to win. And sometimes it’s going to be scoring, sometimes other things.”

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On the year, the 26-year-old superstar is averaging 45.3 points while slashing .584/.351/.786, 11.7 rebounds, 7.7 dishes, and 0.7 swipes per night.

Los Angeles' second- (or, maybe now, third-) best player, 21-time All-NBA power forward LeBron James, has yet to play a game as he recovers from a sciatica injury on his right side and lower back.

Another Star on the Rise

Guard Austin Reaves, meanwhile, has managed to step up in the absence of James and the occasional absence of Doncic. While playing all six of the Lakers' regular season games, Reaves has been averaging 32.0 points while slashing .504/.362/.910, 9.0 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.7 steals a night.

Next up for Doncic and the 4-2 Lakers is a clash at home against the Miami Heat, slated for Sunday at 6:30 p.m. PT.

For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.