Does breaking Gretzky’s record merit the Conn Smythe for McDavid?
Elliotte Friedman joins the Jeff Marek Show to discuss Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record for most assists in a single postseason and if that alone means he should be the frontrunner for the Conn Smythe trophy.
Even with his Dallas Mavericks trailing 3-1 in the NBA Finals, Luka Doncic is on the verge of making basketball history.
The 25-year-old is tracking to become the first player to lead a single NBA playoffs in points, rebounds, assists and steals since steals were first tracked in 1973-74, Sportsnet Stats can confirm.
Doncic has 607 points, 196 rebounds, 173 assists, 38 steals and, for good measure, also has a post-season-leading seven triple-doubles.
With the series moving back to Boston for Game 5 on Monday, the five-time All-Star isn’t just leading in those categories, but he’s lapping the field. His teammate Kyrie Irving is second in points with 472, Celtics star Jayson Tatum is second in rebounds with 176, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton is second in assists with 123 and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards is second in steals with 24.
It would likely take the series to go to seven games or a Doncic injury for any other player to even have a shot at overtaking him in any of the four categories.
Doncic is averaging 28.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 1.8 steals through 21 games in these playoffs, guiding the Mavericks past the Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Timberwolves on their path to the Finals.
The Slovenian star would undoubtedly like to extend the series to seven and take home his first NBA title in exchange for any stat-based record, but win or lose, there is no denying he has had a special post-season run.