History of Luka Dončić in Timeline
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.
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.
1960: Comparisons to Oscar Robertson
In 1960, Oscar Robertson had a rookie season where he averaged at least 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Luka Dončić joined a list of 5 players in NBA history to achieve this, 1960, 1984, 2003, 2009 and 2019.
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.
December 1967: Two Games Against the Clippers
In February 2022, 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: Consecutive Games Record Since 1976
On December 8, 2019, 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: Three-Point Era Statistic
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: Player Since 1983
In 2019, Luka Dončić became the fourth player since the 1983-84 season to have consecutive 35-point triple doubles. The other three players were Michael Jordan, James Harden and Russell Westbrook.
1984: Comparisons to Michael Jordan
In 1984, Michael Jordan had a rookie season where he averaged at least 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Luka Dončić joined a list of 5 players in NBA history to achieve this, 1960, 1984, 2003, 2009 and 2019.
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.
1989: Michael Jordan's Record in 1989
On December 8, 2019, 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. Michael Jordan previously held the record with 18 straight games in 1989.
1995: EuroBasket Triple-Doubles
Since 1995, there have been only four triple-doubles at EuroBasket, one of which was recorded by Dončić in 2025.
1998: All-NBA First Team Selection
On September 16, 2020, 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 a first or second season.
February 28, 1999: Luka Dončić Born
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).
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.
2001: Youngest Player of the Month
In December 2019, Luka Dončić was named the NBA Western Conference Player of the Month for October and November, becoming the youngest Western Conference Player of the Month winner since the league began issuing the award by conferences in the 2001-02 season.
2003: Comparisons to LeBron James
In 2003, LeBron James had a rookie season where he averaged at least 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Luka Dončić joined a list of 5 players in NBA history to achieve this, 1960, 1984, 2003, 2009 and 2019.
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).
2008: Parents' Divorce
In 2008, Luka Dončić's parents filed for divorce, with custody and legal guardianship granted to his mother.
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.
2009: Comparisons to Tyreke Evans
In 2009, Tyreke Evans had a rookie season where he averaged at least 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Luka Dončić joined a list of 5 players in NBA history to achieve this, 1960, 1984, 2003, 2009 and 2019.
2010: Selection for 2010-20 All-Decade Team
In March 2020, Luka Dončić was selected for the 2010–20 All-Decade Team.
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.
April 2018: Sports Journalist Mina Kimes Profile
In April 2018, sports journalist Mina Kimes profiled Dončić, noting his enjoyment of video game franchises like Call of Duty, FIFA, and Overwatch.
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.
November 2018: NBA Rookie of the Month
In November 2018, Luka Dončić was named the NBA Rookie of the Month in the Western Conference, marking an early recognition of his outstanding performance.
December 2018: Western Conference Rookie of the Month
In December 2018, Luka Dončić was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for the second consecutive month.
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.
2018: Basketball Card
In 2018, Panini made a basketball card of Luka Dončić.
January 2019: Western Conference Rookie of the Month
In January 2019, Luka Dončić was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for his performance, marking his continued success in his rookie season.
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.
November 2019: Nomination to EuroLeague All-Decade Team
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 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.
December 2019: Gregg Popovich Compares Dončić to Magic Johnson
In December 2019, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich likened Dončić's playing style to that of Magic Johnson, citing his exceptional court vision.
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: Rising Stars Challenge Selection
In 2019, Luka Dončić was selected to participate in the Rising Stars Challenge representing Slovenia.
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.
March 2020: Selection for 2010-20 All-Decade Team
In March 2020, Luka Dončić was selected for the 2010–20 All-Decade Team.
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.
August 2020: Rick Carlisle Compares Dončić to Larry Bird and Jason Kidd
In August 2020, head coach Rick Carlisle compared Dončić's playmaking and court vision to those of Larry Bird and Jason Kidd, highlighting his exceptional skills.
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.
March 23, 2021: Named Honorary Member of Real Madrid
On March 23, 2021, the Real Madrid Football Club named Luka Dončić and Spanish rally driver Carlos Sainz Sr. as honorary members.
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.
2021: Basketball Card Sold for $4.6 Million
Dončić's 2018–19 Panini National Treasures basketball card sold for $4.6 million dollars in 2021.
February 3, 2022: NBA All-Star Game Reserve
On February 3, 2022, Luka Dončić was named as a reserve for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game.
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.
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 the award in his career.
March 2023: Grandmaster Tier in Overwatch
In March 2023, Dončić reached the "Grandmaster" tier in competitive play in Overwatch, showcasing his skill in the game.
July 2023: Engagement to Anamaria Goltes
In July 2023, Luka Dončić became engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Anamaria Goltes.
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.
December 1, 2023: Birth of Gabriela
On December 1, 2023, Luka Dončić and Anamaria Goltes welcomed their daughter, Gabriela.
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 2024: Jason Kidd's Praise for Dončić
In January 2024, former basketball player Jason Kidd said 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 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.
December 29, 2024: Dallas Home Burglary
On December 29, 2024, Dončić's house in the Preston Hollow neighborhood of Dallas was burglarized.
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.
December 4, 2025: Birth of Olivia
On December 4, 2025, Luka Dončić and Anamaria Goltes welcomed their second daughter, Olivia.
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.
2025: Overwatch Campaign
In 2025, Dončić collaborated with Overwatch ahead of their second season with an advertising campaign featuring Dončić as the hero Cassidy, as well as exclusive in-game rewards.
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.
March 2026: End of Engagement
By March 2026, Dončić and Goltes ended their engagement over custody disputes regarding the residency of their daughters.
2029: Lakers acquire first-round pick
On February 2, 2025, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired a 2029 first-round pick as part of the trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Lakers.
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