Luka Dončić had a chance to reach 50 points before he was removed during Friday's 128-110 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, as head coach JJ Redick left him in the game late in the fourth quarter on 48 points.

The Lakers will rely more heavily on Dončić in the early going with LeBron James on the shelf due to sciatica. James is reportedly targeting a mid-November season debut, which gives Dončić about a month of runway as the unquestioned leader of the Lakers' lineup.

Dončić became the first player in NBA history to begin the season with consecutive 40-point, 10-rebound and 5-assist games.

Following his rough 10-point, six-rebound, four-turnover debut with the franchise on Tuesday night in a 119-109 loss to the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles' key summer signing and new starting center Deandre Ayton was lambasted by Lakers fans and media members, alike.

There's no indication that Nico Harrison's status as Dallas Mavericks general manager is in jeopardy right now, but team doesn't appear to be in a rush to extend his deal in the aftermath of the Luka Dončić trade.

Deandre Ayton attacking the rim with force fueled hope inside the Lakers' locker room that this year’s team has a higher ceiling.

“Luka is the 1st player in Lakers history to start a season with two consecutive 40-point games and only the 4th player in league history to do so (Anthony Davis, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain are the others),” Lakers insider Dave McMenamin posted.

The major storyline is Luka Dončić guiding the Lakers to a dominant win over a top-tier foe in the Western Conference, dispatching Minnesota by a final margin of 128-110. However, the Slovenian’s individual excellence is to be marveled at: