Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Luka Dončić

Discover the career path of Luka Dončić, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Luka Dončić is a Slovenian professional basketball player currently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. Renowned as "Luka Magic", he's considered one of the greatest European players ever. Dončić has achieved significant accolades since his rookie year, including six NBA All-Star selections and five All-NBA First Team selections, demonstrating his consistent high performance and impact on the game. He also proudly represents the Slovenian national team in international competitions.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

1959: Doncic nearly replicates Chamberlain's record

In the 1959-60 NBA season, Wilt Chamberlain scored at least 30 points in each of the first eight games. On November 3, 2022, Luka Doncic became the second NBA player to match this achievement.

1962: Doncic matches Chamberlain's record

In the 1962-63 NBA season, Wilt Chamberlain scored at least 30 points in each of the first seven games. On November 2, 2022, Luka Doncic became the first player since Chamberlain to match this achievement.

1986: Michael Jordan's Road Game Average

In 1986, Michael Jordan averaged at least 40 points over six consecutive road games, a feat not repeated until Dončić matched it.

1986: Doncic matches Jordan's record

In 1986, Michael Jordan scored at least 30 points in each of the first six games of the season. On October 30, 2022, Luka Doncic became the first player to match this achievement since Jordan.

1995: EuroBasket Triple-Doubles

Since 1995, there have been only four triple-doubles at EuroBasket, one of which was recorded by Dončić in 2025.

1999: Dončić matches Duncan's record

In 1999, Tim Duncan recorded a 30-point double-double in his first Finals game. In the 2024 NBA Finals, Luka Dončić became the first player since Duncan to record a 30-point double-double in his first Finals game.

January 22, 2006: Kobe Bryant scores 81 points

On January 22, 2006, Kobe Bryant scored 81 points in a single game. Since then, on January 26, 2024, Luka Dončić became the fourth player in league history to score 72 or more points in a game.

2006: First triple-double in the ACB

On May 9, 2018, Dončić recorded 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in 22 minutes against Real Betis Energía Plus, for the first triple-double in the ACB since the 2006–07 season.

2007: Youngest Player to Reach 400 EuroBasket Points

In 2025, Dončić became the youngest player (26 years and 184 days) to reach 400 EuroBasket points, surpassing Tony Parker's feat in 2007 (25 years, 122 days).

December 2009: Doncic sets franchise record

In December 2009, Dirk Nowitzki set the Mavericks franchise record for the most points in any half. On January 26, 2024, Luka Doncic surpassed this record with 41 points in the first half.

September 2011: Named MVP at Vasas Intesa Sanpaolo Cup

In September 2011, representing Olimpija at the under-14 Vasas Intesa Sanpaolo Cup in Budapest, Luka Dončić was named the most valuable player (MVP).

2011: Mavericks win NBA Finals

In 2011, the Dallas Mavericks won the NBA Finals, marking the team's first first-round victory since that championship win.

February 2012: Loaned to Real Madrid for Minicopa Endesa

In February 2012, Luka Dončić was loaned to Spanish club Real Madrid for the Minicopa Endesa, an under-14 Spanish club competition.

April 2012: MVP at Lido di Roma Tournament

In April 2012, Luka Dončić participated in the under-13 Lido di Roma Tournament for Olimpija, finishing as MVP and leading scorer with 34.5 points per game.

September 2012: Signed with Real Madrid

In September 2012, at 13 years of age, Luka Dončić signed a five-year contract with Real Madrid.

February 2013: Led Real Madrid to Minicopa Endesa Win

In February 2013, Luka Dončić led Real Madrid to a Minicopa Endesa win, averaging 24.5 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and six steals per game, and earned MVP honors.

December 2014: Friendly Tournament in Hungary

In December 2014, Luka Dončić participated in a friendly tournament in Székesfehérvár, Hungary, where he averaged 35.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.

2014: Played in ACB season

In the 2014-15 ACB season, Dončić played five games averaging 1.6 points and 1.2 rebounds in 4.8 minutes per game.

2014: Played with Real Madrid's Under-18 and Reserve Teams

In the 2014–15 season, Luka Dončić mainly played with Real Madrid's under-18 and reserve teams, averaging 13.5 points with the reserve team.

January 2015: Won Ciutat de L'Hospitalet Tournament

In January 2015, Luka Dončić won the under-18 Ciutat de L'Hospitalet Tournament and was selected to the All-Tournament Team.

April 30, 2015: Professional Debut for Real Madrid

On April 30, 2015, Luka Dončić made his professional debut for Real Madrid in the Liga ACB against Unicaja at 16 years, two months and two days of age, becoming the youngest player to ever play for Real Madrid in the ACB.

May 2015: Won Next Generation Tournament

In May 2015, Luka Dončić won the under-18 Next Generation Tournament and was selected MVP after helping defeat Crvena zvezda Belgrade in the final.

October 8, 2015: Played against the Boston Celtics in an NBA preseason game

On October 8, 2015, Luka Dončić played against the Boston Celtics in an NBA preseason game, collecting four rebounds, an assist and a block.

2015: Debut for Real Madrid's Senior Team

In 2015, Luka Dončić debuted for Real Madrid's senior team at age 16, becoming the youngest player in club history.

January 7, 2016: EuroLeague game against CSKA Moscow

On January 7, 2016, in the EuroLeague game against CSKA Moscow, Luka Dončić scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds.

September 22, 2016: Commitment to Slovenian National Team

On September 22, 2016, Luka Dončić publicly committed to representing the Slovenian senior men's national team for the remainder of his career.

September 30, 2016: 2016-17 Season Debut

On September 30, 2016, Luka Dončić debuted for the 2016–17 season against Unicaja, recording six points and four assists in 19 minutes.

October 3, 2016: NBA Preseason Win over Oklahoma City Thunder

On October 3, 2016, Luka Dončić collected three points, five rebounds and four assists in an NBA preseason win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

December 8, 2016: EuroLeague Victory over Žalgiris Kaunas

On December 8, 2016, Luka Dončić scored a team-high 17 points in a EuroLeague victory over Žalgiris Kaunas.

2016: Kobe Bryant's Final Game

In 2016, Kobe Bryant played his final NBA game, marking the last time a Lakers player scored 60 points until Dončić matched the feat later.

2016: Senior Debut for Slovenia

In 2016, at only 17 years of age, Luka Dončić made his senior debut for Slovenia.

January 14, 2017: MVP of the Round in EuroLeague

On January 14, 2017, Luka Dončić earned MVP of the Round in the EuroLeague after posting 10 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists to help beat Maccabi Tel Aviv.

October 1, 2017: Season Debut

On October 1, 2017, Luka Dončić recorded eight points, six rebounds and four assists in a 94–88 victory over MoraBanc Andorra.

2017: National Team Debut

In 2017, Dončić began a 17-match winning streak with the senior national team that ended in the Olympic semifinal matchup versus France.

2017: EuroBasket 2017 Gold Medal

In 2017, Dončić was part of the Slovenian team that won its first gold medal at EuroBasket, finishing the tournament undefeated with a 9-0 record.

2017: EuroBasket Title with Slovenia

In 2017, Luka Dončić helped Slovenia win its first EuroBasket title and was named to the All-Tournament Team.

2017: Deal with Nike

In 2017, while playing at Real Madrid, Dončić signed a two-year deal with Nike.

February 9, 2018: Led team with 27 points

On February 9, 2018, Luka Dončić led his team with 27 points in a losing effort to Olympiacos, 80–79.

March 30, 2018: Game-Winning Shot

On March 30, 2018, Luka Dončić scored 24 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and made a game-winning three-pointer under a second left in regulation to beat Crvena zvezda Belgrade, 82–79.

June 21, 2018: Drafted by Atlanta Hawks and Traded to Dallas Mavericks

On June 21, 2018, Luka Dončić was selected as the third overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2018 NBA draft and was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks for Trae Young and a 2019 first-round pick. Mavericks' head coach Rick Carlisle expressed excitement about acquiring a "franchise foundation piece".

June 29, 2018: Parted Ways with Real Madrid

On June 29, 2018, Luka Dončić parted ways with Real Madrid.

July 9, 2018: Signed Rookie Contract

On July 9, 2018, Luka Dončić officially signed his rookie contract with the Dallas Mavericks, marking the beginning of his NBA career.

October 17, 2018: Regular-Season Debut

On October 17, 2018, Luka Dončić made his NBA regular-season debut, recording 10 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in a loss against the Phoenix Suns.

2018: NBA Draft Prospect

Entering the 2018 NBA draft, Dončić was widely regarded as one of the best and most accomplished European prospects of his generation.

2018: EuroLeague Title with Real Madrid

In 2018, Luka Dončić led Real Madrid to the EuroLeague title, winning the EuroLeague MVP and the Final Four MVP.

2018: Drafted to the NBA

In 2018, Luka Dončić was drafted third overall by the Atlanta Hawks and then traded to the Dallas Mavericks.

October 25, 2019: First Triple-Double of the Season

On October 25, 2019, Luka Dončić recorded his first triple-double of the season, contributing 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a victory against the New Orleans Pelicans.

December 8, 2019: Consecutive Games Record

On December 8, 2019, Luka Dončić surpassed Michael Jordan's record for the most consecutive games with at least 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists since the ABA-NBA merger in 1976.

December 2019: Endorsement Deal with Air Jordan

In December 2019, Dončić signed a multi-year endorsement deal with Air Jordan, including a signature shoe, the Jordan Luka 1.

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2019: First All-Star Game Selection

During the 2019-2020 season, Luka Dončić was selected to his first NBA All-Star Game as a Western Conference starter, becoming the youngest European player to start in an All-Star game.

2019: Future First-Round Pick

In 2019, the Dallas Mavericks were due to receive a protected future first-round pick as part of the trade deal that sent Luka Dončić to the team from the Atlanta Hawks.

January 4, 2020: Tenth Triple-Double of the Season

On January 4, 2020, Luka Dončić recorded his tenth triple-double of the season, scoring 39 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists in a loss against the Charlotte Hornets.

July 31, 2020: 15th Triple-Double of the Season

On July 31, 2020, Luka Dončić recorded his 15th triple-double of the season, scoring 28 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists in a loss against the Houston Rockets.

2020: Olympic Berth

During the 2020 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Kaunas, Lithuania, Luka Dončić led Slovenia to its first-ever Olympic berth.

February 6, 2021: Matched Career-High Score

On February 6, 2021, Luka Dončić matched his then-career-high of 42 points, along with 11 assists and seven rebounds, in a win against the Golden State Warriors.

July 14, 2021: NBA 2K22 Cover Athlete

On July 14, 2021, Dončić was announced as the cover athlete for NBA 2K22, the 23rd installment in the NBA 2K video game series.

July 26, 2021: Olympic Debut

On July 26, 2021, in his Olympic debut, Dončić scored 48 points in a 118–100 victory over Argentina, tying for the second-highest men's point total in a single game in Summer Olympics history.

August 10, 2021: Signed Rookie Extension

On August 10, 2021, Luka Dončić signed a five-year $207 million rookie extension, the largest in NBA history.

October 22, 2022: Dončić achieves milestone victory

On October 22, 2022, Luka Dončić scored 32 points, had seven rebounds, and 10 assists in a 137–96 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, becoming the fourth player since the NBA merger to reach 7,000 career points in under 270 games.

October 25, 2023: Dončić achieves triple-double in season opener

On October 25, 2023, Luka Dončić recorded a triple-double with 33 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 126–119 win against the San Antonio Spurs, becoming the first Mavericks player to achieve a 30-point triple-double in a season-opening game.

2023: FIBA Basketball World Cup

During the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Dončić joined the exclusive 200-point club, becoming one of only 11 players to achieve this in a single World Cup campaign, while also leading all scorers with 27.0 points per game.

2023: Led NBA in Scoring

During the 2023–24 season, Luka Dončić led the NBA in scoring, becoming the first European and second international player to achieve this feat.

2023: Deal with Jordan

In 2023, Dončić inked a six-year deal with Jordan, solidifying the continuation of his Jordan Luka line.

2023: Dončić joins Jokić in NBA history

In 2023, Nikola Jokić led the NBA playoffs in points, rebounds, and assists. Luka Dončić would repeat the feat in the 2024 playoffs becoming the second player in NBA history to do so.

January 25, 2024: Dončić named All-Star starter

On January 25, 2024, Luka Dončić was selected as a Western Conference starter for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game, marking his fifth consecutive selection and fourth as a starter.

May 15, 2024: Dončić delivers playoff triple-double

On May 15, 2024, Luka Dončić recorded his sixth career playoff triple-double with 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 104–92 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

December 7, 2024: Dončić surpasses Chamberlain and Harden

On December 7, 2024, Luka Dončić recorded a triple-double with 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 125–118 win over the Toronto Raptors, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain and James Harden for seventh on the all-time career triple-double list.

2024: Olympic Qualifying Rounds

In 2024, Dončić led Slovenia in the qualifying rounds for the Paris Olympic Games. Slovenia, however, did not qualify for the Olympics, after losing to Greece 96–68, and therefore missing out on the final phase.

2024: Mavericks lose NBA Finals

In 2024, the Dallas Mavericks lost in five games to the Boston Celtics despite Dončić's efforts; he finished the postseason as the leader in total points, rebounds, and assists.

2024: Traded to the Los Angeles Lakers

In the middle of the 2024–25 season, Luka Dončić was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a controversial blockbuster trade.

February 2, 2025: Dončić traded to the Lakers

On February 2, 2025, Luka Dončić, along with Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Max Christie, Anthony Davis, and a 2029 first-round pick, marking a significant and unexpected event in NBA history.

August 2, 2025: Contract Extension with the Lakers

On August 2, 2025, Luka Dončić agreed to a three-year, $165 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers.

2025: EuroBasket 2025

In 2025, Dončić captained Slovenia at EuroBasket. He became the first player in EuroBasket history to record 30-plus points, 5-plus assists and 5-plus steals in a game.

January 20, 2026: 87th Career Triple-Double

On January 20, 2026, Dončić achieved his 87th career triple-double, scoring 38 points, securing 13 rebounds, and providing 10 assists in a 115–107 victory over the Denver Nuggets.