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Luka Doncic's impressive beginning to the NBA season has been connected to a significant shift in his personal life, with an insider indicating that the Lakers star is now experiencing greater mental clarity.
Doncic has been nearly unstoppable for Los Angeles, posting averages of 40.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.7 assists over his first 12 games.
The Lakers have also started strongly, standing at 10-2 after their 124-114 win against the Atlanta Hawks, which pushed their winning streak to six games.
NBA insider Kirk Goldsberry provided insight into what might have changed for Doncic, disclosing that a person close to the situation believes the Slovenian is in a much better mental state.
Recounting a conversation with his source, Goldsberry said: "I asked somebody very close to the situation what has gotten into Luka Doncic? I've never seen this."
"And this person said to me, 'Kirk, he is clear-headed,' and sort of alluding to clouds from last year that were, I think, off-the-court things."
Doncic has undergone significant personal changes in recent years, including a public divorce and child custody battle.
That coincided with his unexpected move from the Dallas Mavericks to the Lakers.
Goldsberry's comments suggest that finding greater peace away from basketball may have helped Doncic focus on his performances.
There have also been changes to the Lakers roster.
Los Angeles has reshaped its squad around the Slovenian, with Walker Kessler arriving from the Utah Jazz to provide another option at center.
Doncic has already made a strong case for the Western Conference Player of the Week award, averaging 45 points, seven rebounds, and 8.3 assists across three games during the previous week.
His latest performance against Atlanta brought another 32 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds, along with five steals and two blocks.
The bigger question now is whether Doncic can maintain anything close to his current scoring pace.
Averaging 40 points across an entire season is an extraordinary challenge, but his form has already put him firmly in the MVP conversation.
Key Analysis
Doncic's off-court stability appears to be translating into on-court excellence, with his mental clarity potentially unlocking a new level of performance. The Lakers' roster adjustments, including the addition of Walker Kessler, have also complemented Doncic's style, but sustaining such a high scoring average will be a test of endurance and focus. His early MVP-caliber play has set a high bar for the remainder of the season.
Originally reported by yahoo.