Luka Dončić’s Viral Nutmeg Alley-Oop Fuels Lakers’ 12-4 Surge—Is an MVP Season Incoming?

LOS ANGELES – Luka Dončić is doing more than living up to the Hollywood spotlight; he’s rewriting the Los Angeles Lakers’ record book on an almost nightly basis. Just 16 games into his first season in purple and gold, the 26-year-old superstar is averaging 34.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 8.9 assists while carrying the Lakers to an 11-5 start that has them firmly in the Western Conference’s top tier. On Sunday in Salt Lake City, Dončić poured in 33 points, hauled down 11 boards and added eight assists plus three steals in a 108-106 thriller over the Utah Jazz, becoming the first player in NBA history to eclipse 400 points and 100 assists through the first 12 games of a season. The Slovenian maestro’s latest masterpiece also marked his fifth double-double in eight outings, reinforcing whispers that he could capture his first league MVP trophy as early as this spring. Fresh legs, fresh confidence Dončić’s torrid start is even more impressive considering the scare he gave fans in late October, when a sprained finger and lower-leg contusion forced him to miss three games. According to the most recent injury report, he is now “fully healthy” and faces no restrictions heading into Wednesday’s showdown with the rival Clippers, the Lakers’ third NBA In-Season Tournament group game. Key numbers driving the hype • Nine triple-doubles in his first 16 appearances—an NBA record pace. • 54.1 percent shooting on two-pointers, a career best, thanks to improved conditioning and a lighter offseason training regimen. • A league-leading 14.2 points per game in the fourth quarter, showcasing Dončić’s reputation as a closer. How the Lakers are maximizing their new engine Head coach Darvin Ham has handed Dončić the keys to a “5-out” attack that spaces Anthony Davis and LeBron James to the corners while letting Dončić probe with lethal pick-and-rolls. The result: Los Angeles ranks second in offensive rating during clutch minutes (last five minutes, score within five), up from 14th a season ago. “He manipulates defenses in slow motion,” James said after the Jazz win, smiling when asked whether the Lakers can keep riding their new point guard’s rocket. “All we have to do is cut at the right time and knock down open shots.” Eyes on the MVP race Oddsmakers still list three-time winner Nikola Jokić as the favorite, but Dončić’s surge—highlighted by nine straight 30-point games—has slashed his MVP odds from 12-1 on opening night to 3-1 entering Thanksgiving week. If he maintains anything close to his current averages and the Lakers finish top-two in the West, voters may find it impossible to overlook the narrative of a once-in-a-generation talent revitalizing the league’s glamour franchise. What’s next 1. Tuesday: practice and media availability at the Lakers’ El Segundo facility. 2. Wednesday: home clash with the Clippers, where Dončić will duel James Harden in a national-TV showcase. 3. Friday: pivotal In-Season Tournament tilt against Phoenix; a win clinches Group C and home-court advantage in the quarterfinals. Bottom line Whether he’s dropping no-look dimes, burying step-back threes or flexing his improved defense, Luka Dončić has transformed the Lakers from a playoff question mark into legitimate title contenders. With health on his side and momentum building, the NBA’s newest Hollywood headliner is positioning himself for an awards-season sweep—MVP, scoring champion and perhaps a championship ring to match.