Luka Doncic Drops 73 Points Of His Own
Luka Doncic Drops 73 Points Of His Own
Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks delivered a jaw-dropping performance. He scored a staggering 73 points in his team’s 148-143 road victory against the Atlanta Hawks. This ties him for the fourth all-time highest point total by a player in a single NBA contest. He joins the ranks of legends like Wilt Chamberlain (1st-101, 3rd-78), Kobe Bryant (2nd-81), and David Thompson (4th-73).
In just a span of a week, we’ve witnessed two of the most prolific scoring performances in recent NBA history. First there was Joel Embiid’s 70-point explosion against the San Antonio Spurs. Now there is Luka Doncic’s 73-point outburst against the Hawks. Either these two put out super-duper offensive efforts, or the Hawks and the Spurs took naps on the defensive end.
Since the 1990’s, scoring in the NBA has consistently trended upwards. This reflects a shift towards a faster-paced and more offensive-minded style of play. Here are some staggering statistics to illustrate this trend:
- In the 1990-91 NBA season, the league averaged 105 points per game. Fast forward to the 2020-21 season, and that number has increased to 112.4 points per game.
- Three-point shooting has become a staple of modern basketball. In the 1980-81 season, teams attempted an average of 2.8 three-pointers per game. In contrast, during the 2020-21 season teams attempted an average of 34.7 three-pointers per game.
- The pace of play has also accelerated over the years. In the 1990s, teams averaged around 90 to 95 possessions per game. Today, that number has increased to over 100 possessions per game. This can be attributed to shot clock rule changes (from ten to eight seconds to get the ball over half court and from 24 to 14 seconds on second shot attempts).
Luka Doncic’s phenomenal performance showcases his individual brilliance. It also highlights the evolution of scoring in the NBA. His 73-point outburst cements his status as one of the brightest stars in the league; not that there was ever any doubt.
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