History of Luka Dončić in Timeline
Luka Dončić is a Slovenian professional basketball player renowned as one of the greatest European players of all time. Currently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA, he has achieved remarkable success since his rookie season. He has been selected for five NBA All-Star games and earned five All-NBA First Team selections, highlighting his exceptional skills and impact on the sport. He also represents the Slovenian national team in international competitions.
1960: Comparison to Oscar Robertson
In 1960, Oscar Robertson averaged at least 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in his rookie year, a feat Luka Dončić matched.
December 1967: Most points in a 2 game span against the same opponent
In February 2022, Luka Dončić had the most points in a two-game span against the same opponent since Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 for Philadelphia against Seattle in December 1967.
1976: ABA-NBA Merger Record
On December 8, 2019, Luka Dončić surpassed the record for the most consecutive games with at least 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists since the ABA-NBA merger in 1976.
1980: NBA History
In February 2022, Luka Dončić became the first player in NBA history to average 30 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists per game while shooting at least 40 percent from three-point range in a calendar month in the three-point era since 1980.
1983: Joining NBA Elite Club
In November 2019, Luka Dončić became the fourth NBA player since the 1983-84 season to achieve successive 35-point triple-doubles.
1984: Comparison to Michael Jordan
In 1984, Michael Jordan averaged at least 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in his rookie year, a feat Luka Dončić matched.
1989: Consecutive Games Record Broken
On December 8, 2019, Luka Dončić surpassed Michael Jordan's record from 1989 for the most consecutive games with at least 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists since the ABA-NBA merger in 1976.
1998: All-NBA First Team Selection
On September 16, 2020, Luka Dončić was named to the All-NBA First Team, becoming the first player since Tim Duncan in the 1998-99 season to be selected to an All-NBA First Team in their first or second season.
February 28, 1999: Birth of Luka Dončić
On February 28, 1999, Luka Dončić was born. He is a Slovenian professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
2001: Youngest Player of the Month
In December 2019, Luka Dončić became the youngest Western Conference Player of the Month winner since the league began issuing the award by conferences in the 2001-02 season.
2003: Comparison to Lebron James
In 2003, Lebron James averaged at least 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in his rookie year, a feat Luka Dončić matched.
2008: Parents' Divorce
In 2008, Luka Dončić's parents filed for divorce, with his mother being granted custody and legal guardianship.
2009: Comparison to Tyreke Evans
In 2009, Tyreke Evans averaged at least 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in his rookie year, a feat Luka Dončić matched.
2010: EuroLeague All-Decade Team Selection
Luka Dončić was selected for the EuroLeague 2010-20 All-Decade Team.
2010: Selected to the EuroLeague 2010–20 All-Decade Team
Luka Dončić was selected to the EuroLeague 2010–20 All-Decade Team.
September 2011: Vasas Intesa Sanpaolo Cup MVP
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 Last Finals Win
On April 28, Luka Dončić led the Mavericks to advance to the postseason's second round for the first time in his NBA career and the first time since winning the 2011 NBA Finals.
February 2012: Minicopa Endesa MVP
In February 2012, on loan to Real Madrid for the Minicopa Endesa, Luka Dončić averaged 13.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 3.3 steals per game to win tournament MVP honors.
April 2012: Lido di Roma Tournament MVP and Leading Scorer
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: Signs with Real Madrid
In September 2012, at 13 years of age, Luka Dončić signed a five-year contract with Real Madrid.
February 2013: Minicopa Endesa Win and MVP
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 was named MVP.
December 2014: Dončić Participates in Friendly Tournament
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, showcasing impressive shooting percentages.
2014: ACB Season
During the 2014-15 ACB season, Luka Dončić played five games, averaging 1.6 points, and 1.2 rebounds in 4.8 minutes per game.
2014: Plays with Real Madrid's Under-18 and Reserve Teams
During the 2014–15 season, Luka Dončić primarily played with Real Madrid's under-18 and reserve teams.
January 2015: Under-18 Ciutat de L'Hospitalet Tournament Win and All-Tournament Team Selection
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, becoming the youngest player to ever play for Real Madrid in the ACB.
May 2015: Under-18 Next Generation Tournament Win and MVP
In May 2015, Luka Dončić won the under-18 Next Generation Tournament and was selected as MVP.
October 8, 2015: NBA Preseason Game Appearance
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 Senior Team
In 2015, at the age of 16, Luka Dončić made his debut for the Real Madrid academy's senior team, becoming the youngest player in club history.
January 7, 2016: EuroLeague Game Against CSKA Moscow
On January 7, 2016, Luka Dončić scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds against CSKA Moscow in the EuroLeague, making three consecutive three-pointers.
September 22, 2016: Dončić Announces Commitment to Slovenian National Team
On September 22, 2016, Luka Dončić officially announced his decision to represent the senior men's Slovenian national team for the remainder of his career. Goran Dragić, whom he had known since age seven, became his national team roommate and mentor.
September 30, 2016: 2016-17 Season Debut
On September 30, 2016, Luka Dončić debuted in 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: Senior Debut for Slovenia
In 2016, at the age of 17, Luka Dončić made his senior debut for Slovenia's national team.
January 14, 2017: EuroLeague MVP of the Round
On January 14, 2017, Luka Dončić earned the EuroLeague MVP of the Round honor after posting 10 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists to help beat Maccabi Tel Aviv.
October 1, 2017: 2017-18 Season Debut
On October 1, 2017, Luka Dončić recorded eight points, six rebounds, and four assists in a 94–88 victory over MoraBanc Andorra for his 2017-18 season debut.
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: Dončić Signs Deal with Nike
In 2017, while playing for Real Madrid, Luka Dončić signed a two-year deal with Nike.
February 9, 2018: Losing Effort to Olympiacos
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 Three-Pointer
On March 30, 2018, Luka Dončić scored 24 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and made a game-winning three-pointer with under a second left to beat Crvena zvezda Belgrade, 82–79.
April 2018: Mina Kimes Profiles Dončić
In April 2018, sports journalist Mina Kimes profiled Luka Dončić, highlighting his enjoyment of video games like Call of Duty, FIFA, and Overwatch.
June 21, 2018: NBA Draft and Trade to Mavericks
On June 21, 2018, Luka Dončić was selected with the third overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2018 NBA draft and then traded to the Dallas Mavericks.
June 29, 2018: Parting Ways with Real Madrid
On June 29, 2018, Luka Dončić officially parted ways with Real Madrid.
July 9, 2018: Signs Rookie Contract with Mavericks
On July 9, 2018, Luka Dončić signed his rookie contract with the Dallas Mavericks.
October 17, 2018: NBA 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.
November 2018: NBA Rookie of the Month
In November 2018, Luka Dončić was named the NBA Rookie of the Month in the Western Conference, acknowledging his impressive performance during the month.
December 2018: Western Conference Rookie of the Month
In December 2018, Luka Dončić was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month, marking his second consecutive Rookie of the Month award.
2018: Dončić Enters NBA Draft as Top Prospect
In 2018, Luka Dončić entered the NBA draft and was widely regarded as one of the best European prospects of his generation, with high praise from various sports outlets and NBA executives.
2018: EuroLeague Title and MVP Awards
In 2018, Luka Dončić led Real Madrid to the EuroLeague title, winning both the EuroLeague MVP and the Final Four MVP awards. He was also named the ACB Most Valuable Player.
2018: NBA Draft and Trade to Mavericks
In 2018, Luka Dončić was drafted third overall by the Atlanta Hawks and subsequently traded to the Dallas Mavericks.
January 2019: Western Conference Rookie of the Month
In January 2019, Luka Dončić was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month, marking his stellar performance.
October 25, 2019: First Triple-Double of the Season
On October 25, 2019, Luka Dončić recorded his first triple-double of the season, posting 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a victory against the New Orleans Pelicans.
November 2019: EuroLeague All-Decade Team Nomination
In November 2019, Luka Dončić was nominated to the EuroLeague 2010–20 All-Decade Team.
December 8, 2019: Consecutive Games Record
On December 8, 2019, Luka Dončić surpassed the 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: Dončić Signs with Air Jordan
In December 2019, Luka Dončić signed a multi-year endorsement deal with Air Jordan, which included a signature shoe, the Jordan Luka 1.
December 2019: Gregg Popovich Compares Dončić to Magic Johnson
In December 2019, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich likened Luka Dončić's playing style to that of Magic Johnson, noting his exceptional court vision.
2019: Considered Favorite for NBA Rookie of the Year
Before the 2018–19 NBA season, ESPN considered Luka Dončić the favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award.
2019: 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.
2019: Rising Stars Challenge Selection
In 2019, Luka Dončić was named as a confirmed participant for the World Team representing Slovenia in the 2019 Rising Stars Challenge.
January 4, 2020: Tenth Triple-Double of the Season
On January 4, 2020, Luka Dončić recorded his tenth triple-double of the season, posting 39 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists in a loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
March 2020: EuroLeague All-Decade Team Selection
In March 2020, Luka Dončić was selected for the EuroLeague 2010–20 All-Decade Team.
July 31, 2020: Fifteenth Triple-Double of the Season
On July 31, 2020, Luka Dončić recorded his 15th triple-double of the season, posting 28 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists in a loss to the Houston Rockets.
August 2020: Rick Carlisle Compares Dončić's Playmaking to Larry Bird and Jason Kidd
In August 2020, head coach Rick Carlisle compared Luka Dončić's playmaking and court vision to those of Larry Bird and Jason Kidd, highlighting his exceptional skills.
February 6, 2021: Matching Career-High Points
On February 6, 2021, Luka Dončić matched his then-career-high 42 points while putting up 11 assists and seven rebounds in a win over the Golden State Warriors.
March 23, 2021: Honorary Member of Real Madrid Football Club
On March 23, 2021, the Real Madrid Football Club named Luka Dončić as an honorary member, the highest distinction award of the club.
July 14, 2021: Dončić Named NBA 2K22 Cover Athlete
On July 14, 2021, Luka Dončić was announced as the cover athlete for NBA 2K22, the 23rd installment in the NBA 2K video game series.
July 26, 2021: Dončić Scores 48 Points in Olympic Debut
On July 26, 2021, Luka Dončić made his Olympic debut and scored 48 points in a 118–100 victory over Argentina. This tied for the second-highest men's point total in a single game in Summer Olympics history and marked the most points ever in a men's basketball debut.
August 10, 2021: Rookie Extension Signed
On August 10, 2021, Luka Dončić signed a five-year $207 million rookie extension with the Dallas Mavericks, the largest in NBA history.
2021: Dončić's Basketball Card Sold for $4.6 Million
In 2021, Luka Dončić's 2018–19 Panini National Treasures basketball card was sold for $4.6 million dollars.
October 22, 2022: Dončić Records 32 Points in Victory Over Grizzlies
On October 22, 2022, Luka Dončić scored 32 points, had seven rebounds, and ten assists in a 137–96 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. This made him the fourth player since the NBA merger to reach 7,000 career points in under 270 games, joining Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, and LeBron James.
2022: All-Star Game Reserve
On February 3, 2022, Luka Dončić was named as a reserve for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, adding another accomplishment to his career.
January 3, 2023: Dončić Awarded Western Conference Player of the Month
On January 3, 2023, Luka Dončić received the Western Conference Player of the Month award for his performance in December, marking the third time he has received this honor in his career.
March 2023: Dončić Reaches Grandmaster Tier in Overwatch
In March 2023, Luka Dončić reached the "Grandmaster" tier in competitive play in Overwatch, later becoming a top 500 player in the tank role in Overwatch 2, demonstrating his gaming skills.
July 2023: Dončić Gets Engaged to Anamaria Goltes
In July 2023, Luka Dončić got engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Anamaria Goltes.
October 25, 2023: Dončić Triple-Double in Season-Opening Win
On October 25, 2023, Luka Dončić recorded a triple-double with 33 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 126–119 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. He became the first player in Mavericks history to achieve a 30-point triple-double in a season-opening game.
December 1, 2023: Dončić's Daughter Gabriela is Born
On December 1, 2023, Luka Dončić's daughter, Gabriela, was born.
2023: NBA Scoring Leader
During the 2023–24 season, Luka Dončić led the NBA in scoring, becoming the first European to achieve this feat.
2023: Dončić Joins 200-Point Club at FIBA World Cup
In 2023, Luka Dončić joined the exclusive 200-point club during the FIBA Basketball World Cup, becoming one of only 11 players to achieve this in a single World Cup campaign. He led all scorers with 27.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. Slovenia finished seventh, and Dončić was named to the World Cup All-Tournament Team.
2023: Dončić Extends Jordan Deal
In 2023, Luka Dončić signed a 6-year deal with Jordan, solidifying the continuation of his Jordan Luka line.
January 2024: Jason Kidd States Dončić is Better Than Nowitzki
In January 2024, former basketball player and Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd stated about Luka Dončić that "he's better than Dirk [Nowitzki]" and that "he's in the atmosphere of [Michael Jordan], the best to ever do it, LeBron [James], Kobe [Bryant]".
January 25, 2024: Dončić Named All-Star Starter
On January 25, 2024, Luka Dončić was named a Western Conference starter for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game, marking his fifth consecutive selection and his fourth as a starter.
May 15, 2024: Dončić Delivers Playoff Triple-Double Against Thunder
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 Game 5 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals.
December 7, 2024: Dončić Surpasses Chamberlain and Harden on All-Time Triple-Double List
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. With this performance, he also surpassed Wilt Chamberlain and James Harden for seventh on the all-time career triple-double list.
December 29, 2024: Dončić's Dallas House Burglarized
On December 29, 2024, Luka Dončić's house in the Preston Hollow neighborhood of Dallas was burglarized.
2024: Dončić Leads Postseason in Points, Rebounds, and Assists
In 2024, Luka Dončić finished the NBA postseason as the leader in total points (635), rebounds (208) and assists (178), becoming only the second player in NBA history to lead in all three categories since Nikola Jokić in 2023.
2024: Slovenia Fails to Qualify for Paris Olympics
In 2024, the Slovenian basketball team, led by Luka Dončić, failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics after losing to Greece 96–68, thus being left out of the final phase.
2024: Trade 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 Los Angeles 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. This trade was considered one of the most unexpected in NBA history, marking the first time two All-NBA players were traded for each other midseason.
