When you’re mentioned in the same sentence as Michael Jordan, you know you’re doing something really right.
And the basketball universe likely already knew that about Mavericks star guard Luka Doncic. Now, they have another reason to believe he is indeed among the Next Great Ones.
Following a masterful 44-point showing in Sunday’s win over the Magic, Doncic became the first player since Jordan to score at least 30 points in each of his team’s first six games to open the season. And Jordan did it way back in 1986 with the Bulls.
So that, folks, is what’s known as rarified air.
For the record, Jordan’s 1986 streak ended in Game 7, when he just missed it by scoring 28. So yes, Doncic can set a new mark when the Mavericks host the Jazz on Wednesday.
As noted by Sean Keane of Yardbarker, Jordan then “came back with a 48-point effort, and two weeks later began a streak of nine straight games of 40+ points.”
Jordan also went on to average 37.1 points that season. Through the first six games, Doncic is averaging 36.7.
But stats aside, that’s not the only Jordan-Doncic link. Back in 2019, Jordan signed Doncic to his Jordan Brand apparel line. Jordan also went out of his way to hug Doncic at last year’s All-Star Game.
Now, the two are forever connected.
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