Luka Doncic Goes For 42-Point Triple-Double Showing The World That Him, And His Step-Back, Are A Serious Problem For The Rest Of The NBA

Luka Doncic bursts onto the scene a year ago averaging 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists on his way to being named the NBA Rookie of the Year. It was clear that the 19-year-old Slovenian was going to be something special for many years to come and he’s appeared to have found a new gear in his second campaign in the league.

Doncic entered Monday night’s game against the Spurs scoring at least 24 points in all but one of Dallas’ 12 games this season including five 30-point outings, but he did something extremely special against San Antonio.

The now 20-year-old went for 42 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds becoming the second-youngest player in NBA history to post a 40-point triple-double. LeBron James was younger when he pulled off the same feat, but Doncic and King James are the only two players in the history of the league to have a 40-point triple-double before the age of 21.

You need to check out the highlights.

“This guy can do anything he wants to on a basketball court,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle told ESPN. “He’s having one of those magical runs right now. It’s a phenomenal thing to watch. It’s a phenomenal thing to be a part of.”

Carlisle isn’t wrong, any fan watching him on the court or a three-minute highlight reel can see that Doncic is doing whatever the hell he wants out there on the court.

The most lethal part of Doncic’s game is the ability to create space off the dribble with his step-back move. As a 6-foot-7 point guard, he makes things look effortless. He doesn’t leave the ground too far on his jumper and it’s even more evident whenever he pulls out his signature step-back move; and yes it’s a signature move, it doesn’t matter if he’s been in the league for barely over a season.

There isn’t a better example of just how effortlessly smooth his step-back truly is than him hitting a late three against the Spurs on Monday that gave him his 42nd point.

https://twitter.com/NickVanExit/status/1196636417964806144?s=20

It looks so simple, yet he’s the only player on the planet that can make it look that good.

At this point, it would be more surprising to see Doncic actually slow-down his scoring streak than to keep going for nearly 30 per night. He’s going to be in serious MVP talks all year long, and while he may not win the award, it’s still only year two meaning him and that step-back aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Doncic has the Mavericks sitting at 8-5 on the year while averaging 29.5 points, 10.7 rebounds and 9.3 assists on the year following his 42-point outburst.