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Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Luka Doncic Joins Wilt Chamberlain in NBA Record Books in Return From Injury

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dave Ettinger | Last updated Nov 1, 2025 1:04 AM ET

Key Points

Luka Doncic joins elite NBA company in first game back from injury on Friday night.
Doncic leads Los Angeles Lakers to win in first game of Emirates NBA Cup.
Doncic is chasing Wilt Chamberlain's incredible scoring history from the 1961-62 season.

Luka Doncic's first full season with the Los Angeles Lakers got off to a hot start. In his first two games with the Lakers, he finished with full stat-lines to go along with his 43 and 49-point performances.

Despite his incredible offensive performances to start the season, Doncic would then be ruled out with knee and finger injuries, forcing him to miss the next three games. While Doncic was listed day-to-day with multiple injuries, he was able to make a quick recovery.

Doncic returned to the floor Friday night, picking up exactly where he left off. He dropped a game-high 44 points against the Memphis Grizzlies to go along with 12 rebounds and six assists. The Lakers took down the Grizzlies 117-112 and now hold a 4-2 record on the season.

Luka Doncic Joins Wilt Chamberlain in NBA History Books

Despite missing three games due to injury, Doncic's monster performance became his third consecutive 40-point performance to start the 2025-26 NBA season. Doncic joins NBA Hall-of-Famer, Wilt Chamberlain, as the only other player in NBA history to start a season with three straight 40-point performances.

Luka Dončić joins Wilt Chamberlain (2x) as the only players in NBA history to start a season with 3 straight 40+ point games! https://t.co/xIGJ9TAY8J pic.twitter.com/lvSPH7I4gY
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) November 1, 2025

Friday night's game in Memphis was not only Doncic's first game back from injury, it was Game No. 1 of the Emirates NBA Cup. The Lakers find themselves with a 1-0 record in West Group B.

Doncic, who was expected to pick up the slack, with fellow Lakers' superstar, LeBron James sidelined with his own injury, handed that torch to Austin Reaves during his three-game absence.

Reaves impressed the basketball world, posting scoring performances of 51 (career-high), 41, and 28 in Doncic's absence. Reaves struggled with his shot on Friday, finishing with 21 points on just 5-for-14 shooting from the field.

As for Doncic's historic performance against the Grizzlies, he joined rarified air in the process. Chamberlain, who is considered one of the most talented players in NBA history, accomplished this feat to start his third season in the league.

Doncic Chases Chamberlain's Scoring Prowess From 1961-62 Season

While playing for the Philadelphia Warriors, Chamberlain started the 1961-62 season scoring at least 40 points in his first five games. Chamberlain started that season with scoring performances of 48, 57, 53, 55, and 43.

This was the same season Chamberlain famously scored the most points in a single game in NBA history (100). He accomplished that feat during a 169-147 win over the New York Knicks in Game No. 76 (March 2, 1962).

Chamberlain averaged 50.4 points per game that season, a career-high, however would fail to win the NBA MVP award (Bill Russell).

There's no telling how many consecutive games Doncic will score at least 40 points, or if he'll find a way to average 50 or more points this season. But, if he does, the NBA would be hard pressed to not hand him his first NBA MVP award of his career.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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