Slovenian Luka Doncic leads World Championship, surpassing Schmidt's record

Posted : 29 August 2023

The Slovenian sensation has ignited the World Championship with a blazing performance, averaging an impressive 35.5 points per game. This mark places him slightly above the illustrious Oskar Schmidt's all-time record. While it's merely the opening stages of the tournament, Luka Doncic exhibits a newfound intensity, a response to last year's EuroBasket letdown that he took to heart.

As a luminary figure on the Slovenian national team, Doncic's brilliance shines, particularly in the absence of notable names like Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo. His journey began with a commanding 37 points against Venezuela, and he continued his reign with a formidable 34 points against Georgia, securing a home victory. A symphony of "MVP" chants accompanied his brief benching, a tribute well-earned.

On the courts of the championship, Doncic commands the spotlight, leading in both points per game (35.5) and points overall (37.5). These astounding numbers are complemented by his contributions in rebounds (8.5), assists (6), and steals (2.5) per game. While it's premature to declare victory, if his momentum persists, Doncic is destined to etch his name in the annals of World Championship history.

The current record for points per game in a Mundobasket belongs to the legendary Oscar Schmidt, who achieved a nightly average of 34.6 points in the 1990 World Championship. Trailing behind is Greece's eminent Nikos Galis, who secured second place with 33.7 points in 1986. Completing the triumvirate is South Korea's Shin Dong-pa, who clinched third with an average of 32.6 points in 1970. Intriguingly, since Schmidt's historic performance in 1990, no player has managed to surpass the 27-point per game threshold, with Luis Scola's 27 points per game in 2010 marking the highest in subsequent championships. The previous championship's top scorer was Ra Geun-ah of Korea, who tallied 23 points per game.

This World Championship serves as a pivotal chapter in the blossoming career of the Slovenian virtuoso. Launching with an astonishing 37 points, Doncic secures the fourth-highest opening game score in Mundobasket history, trailing only the legendary Nikos Galis, who holds the record with an astounding 53 points. The 21st century has seen this feat achieved by only three others: Luis Scola, Kevin Durant, and Larry Ayuso, all of whom embarked on their journey with back-to-back games of 30 points or more.

In prior tournaments, Doncic's brilliance remained undiminished. During the previous EuroBasket, he averaged 26 points per game, and in the most recent Olympics, he capped his performances with a nightly average of 23.8 points. Ahead of the championship, Pau Gasol hailed him as one of the world's finest players, admiring his unwavering commitment to his national team. In the grand tapestry of victory, no one player stands alone; the tournament's progress will reveal the collective brilliance that Slovenia can muster.

Slovenian Luka Doncic leads World Championship, surpassing Schmidt's record

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