No slow start for Luka Doncic in 2022. After successive periods of criticism and self-awareness that he was sluggish and out of shape since the summer break, Doncic started 2022-23 on a tear. It has now been put on a very short list along with elite company. The Dallas Mavericks star had 33 points with 11 assists and five rebounds in a 103-100 win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. It was his seventh straight 30-plus point effort to start the season. He is the first player to achieve the feat since 1962-63. And he’s only the third person ever to do so. Jack Twyman did it in 1959. Wilt Chamberlain—of course—did it the same year and again in 1962. And now Luca. This is the list. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did not. Michael Jordan didn’t. Karl Malone did not. Kobe Bryant didn’t. LeBron James hasn’t. Doncic opened the season as the MVP favorite and has responded so far with averages of 36.1 points, nine assists and 8.9 rebounds per game. He’s opened with MVP hype before, only to see a slow start derail the campaign. His Slovenian coach, Anze Macek, said in August that Doncic focused more on his offseason training program over the summer. Does it pay off on the field?
