Luka Dončić's astonishing stats: zero attempts on clutch shots in final moments, worst team minus-82 alongside LeBron James

On February 26th Beijing time, the closing moments of the Lakers vs. Magic game sparked widespread discussion. ESPN analyzed two remarkable stats about Dončić: he has taken zero attempts on game-tying or go-ahead shots this season’s final moments, and when he shares the court with LeBron James, the team’s net rating is minus 82, the worst among all Lakers’ pairings.

First, regarding clutch shots to tie or take the lead in the fourth quarter or overtime’s last 90 seconds, the NBA’s leading scorer (averaging 32.5 points per game) has not taken a single attempt. Data shows other Lakers players’ attempts in these situations: LeBron James 2 of 5, Reeves 2 of 2, Hachimura 1 of 2, LaRavia 1 of 1, but Dončić is 0 of 0.

ESPN analyst McMahon commented on the show: “Watching that moment again, you can clearly see Dončić’s lack of confidence. You can criticize many things about him, but rarely is lack of confidence one of them. The last time I saw him hesitate like that was when the Mavericks first acquired Irving; he was overly deferential. Obviously, they later found their rhythm, became a clutch duo, and even reached the Finals.”

The second stat is that in the 747 minutes Dončić and LeBron James have played together this season, the Lakers have been outscored by 82 points, the worst net rating among any duo on the team.

McMahon said: “It’s been a year since Dončić was traded to the Lakers, and he and LeBron still haven’t developed any chemistry. That’s the real issue. Their pairing is very awkward, with a combined net rating of minus 82, the lowest of all Lakers combinations.”

“Poor defense is one thing, especially since Dončić is playing alongside a 40-year-old. But when both are on the court, the Lakers’ offense ranks in the bottom five of the league. This clearly shows the duo lacks any synergy.”

What are your thoughts on these two stats? Feel free to share your opinions in the comments.