Luka Doncic had a dominant month of March with the Los Angeles Lakers, delivering one of the highest levels of his career, not only offensively but with increased defensive impact, which earned him a nomination for Defensive Player of the Month, although the award ultimately went to Victor Wembanyama. The question remained: Had he ever received this recognition during his NBA career?
The answer is no, Doncic had never received that recognition, but the nomination marked a positive step in his overall game, as his defense had long been questioned, both during his time with the Dallas Mavericks and now with the Los Angeles Lakers. He had also never been named to an All-Defensive First or Second Team.
Still, Doncic did win the Western Conference Player of the Month award, and that defensive nomination went hand in hand with his overall production, further highlighting the elite level he showed throughout March. This was the seventh time in Doncic’s career that he received this award and the second time this season, after also winning it in January.
Doncic’s numbers this month
First, it is important to mention the other defensive nominees, players who consistently stand out on that end of the floor, unlike Doncic. He joined a talented group of defenders, with Western Conference candidates including Donovan Clingan (POR), Kris Dunn (LAC), Rudy Gobert (MIN), Chet Holmgren (OKC), and Doncic himself from the Lakers.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers.
March was a standout stretch for Doncic, as he posted remarkable all-around numbers. He averaged 37.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 2.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game, leading the Lakers to a 15-2 record during the month and strengthening their position near the top of the Western Conference standings.
Following that surge, the Lakers held a 50-26 record and sat in the third seed in the West, trailing only the Spurs and the Thunder, who, along with the Detroit Pistons, were widely considered among the top teams in the NBA that season.
Performances that defined Doncic’s month
One of the most notable performances during that stretch came in a 60-point outing on the second night of a back-to-back on the road against the Miami Heat. Doncic shot 18-of-30 from the field, made nine three-pointers, and added seven rebounds, three assists, and five steals.
A week earlier, he nearly recorded a 50-point triple-double, finishing with 51 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists against the Chicago Bulls. In the following game, he hit the game-winning shot with less than a second remaining in overtime to lift the Lakers past the Denver Nuggets.
Doncic also made history during the month, breaking Kobe Bryant’s franchise record for most points in March and joining Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to record 600 points in a single month of March.
