Lakers' Luka Doncic Receives Major Scoring Prediction Ahead of New Season

Oct 14, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts against the Phoenix Suns during an NBA preseason game at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

ESPN's Eric Karabell made a bold prediction for Los Angeles Lakers All-NBA point guard Luka Doncic, predicting the Slovenian will lead the NBA in scoring with 31.5 points per game.

Doncic is entering his first full season with the Lakers and will be the undisputed first option in the Lakers' offense, with LeBron James set to miss time until November with sciatica in his right side.

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The guard came to LA midway through 2024-25 in a league-altering trade, which sent Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a second-round pick to the Mavericks, and he performed well during his first half season in purple and gold. Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 7.5 assists and 8.1 rebounds per game, though those numbers aren't quite what fans have come to expect from the perennial All-Star.

"What?! Nothing against SGA and Jokic, but it is only natural to expect Doncic, in better shape and more comfortable in this offense, to perform better than he did for the Lakers last season. And he was great for the Lakers.," wrote Karabell. "SF/PF LeBron James will have another outstanding season, but Doncic will take over the offense and earn his second scoring title. He might even finish as fantasy's No. 1 player."

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Doncic's 28.2 points per game in 2024-25 would have placed him fourth in NBA, sitting behind the Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo and Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic.

Doncic has definitely shown he has the capabilities to be the best player in the league, nearly averaging a triple-double with a league-leading 33.9 points per game in 2023-24, and could very well do so with a much better supporting cast than he had with the Mavericks that season.

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The Lakers made several solid signings during the offseason, bringing in an ever-important center in DeAndre Ayton, as well as making up for some of their offseason losses with the additions of Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia.

With the multitude of tools at his disposal for the upcoming season, Doncic is set to have an unreal year with the Lakers, and could even add the MVP award and NBA championship, which are missing from his trophy case.

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