The NBA’S Premier Objectionable Originator….
It appears Luka Doncic takes great pleasure in demoralizing the Phoenix Suns on their home floor. The latest chapter of this ‘Valley Villain’ storyline featured Doncic turning into the Grinch and ruining Christmas for Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. Behind a 50-point, 15-assist performance, he left a silent and shook Footprint Center Monday evening as one of the top-shelf MVP candidates.
The 24-year-old phenom surpassed 10,000 career points (in regular season play) with a 34-foot stepback triple in the first quarter, reminding Phoenix of those inescapable ghosts from the 2022 playoffs. That, of course, refers to the second-round nightmare when the Dallas Mavericks eviscerated them by 33 points in Game 7. Phoenix fell prey to Luka’s dominance yet again, this time getting burned by both his individual scoring and the playmaking acumen that only Nikola Jokic can match.
It was the second time in the last 11 days Phoenix has gifted an opposing player 50 points in a road win. Doncic joined his former running mate, Jalen Brunson, who had one of the most efficient 50-point games in NBA history against the Suns on December 15. That came two days after former Maverick Spencer Dinwiddie nailed three clutch fourth quarter buckets to lift Brooklyn over the Suns. No matter what they do, Phoenix is permanently haunted by that 2022 defeat.
For him to achieve it in fewer games than LeBron James and Kevin Durant, two all-time scoring machines who were also handed keys to their offense from day one, is a remarkable feat. But at this point, nothing should surprise us when it comes to Doncic’s individual numbers. Due to the Mavericks’ roster construction since 2018 and various injuries to begin this year, he’s responsible for more offensive creation than any player in the league. And it’s not remotely close.