Paige Bueckers walked into Crypto.com Arena carrying more than just her jersey number. She carried a childhood memory of watching Kobe Bryant dominate the same floor she was about to play on.

The Wings played in Los Angeles on Friday night, and Bueckers didn't let the opportunity go to waste. In her post-game, she talked about how much this opportunity meant to her.

"Going out there, having fun, and playing with passion. This arena in LA has so much history; it's a legendary building and an honor to play in. I grew up watching games here and was a big Kobe fan, so I really enjoy it and try to soak it in. To come here and win with this team, to keep building with the players and individuals we have, is special. I'm very grateful to be part of this."

That relationship with Kobe's legacy carries real weight. Bryant was a Laker for 20 years and won 5 NBA Championships, and has influenced players with his passion and driven “Mamba Mentality”.

Bueckers brought those words to life with her performance. She scored 18 points and had 14 assists, a new career-high and a ‌franchise record in the same game, along with Ogunbowale.

One sole Dallas performance could not define this game. Arike Ogunbowale tallied 30 points on 48 percent shooting, a season best, while Jessica Shepard dropped 22 points to go with 15 rebounds. This aided the Wings in shooting to a 104-96 win, marking the team’s fourth win in a row.

That result moved Dallas to 7-3, their best 10-game start since relocating from Tulsa in 2016, and placed them second in the WNBA standings behind the Minnesota Lynx.

Bueckers' performance against the Sparks solidified her dominance, not just with the win. It also posted a public assertion of ownership of the best-distinguishing elite playmaking in the league.

Paige Bueckers' Playmaking Efficiency Sets Her Apart From the Rest

Paige Bueckers showcased her elite passing ability in the game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday.

Bueckers set a new personal best with 14 assists and matched the Dallas Wings franchise record. This accomplishment was only the first of many for Bueckers on Friday night.

When the game was over and the dust had settled, Bueckers set another record for the fastest player in WNBA history to achieve 250 career assists with 100 or fewer total turnovers.

Bueckers reached that milestone in only 45 career games, and the efficiency behind that number speaks for itself.

To get a good idea of how impressive Bueckers’s stat line was, let’s take a look at Caitlin Clark’s assists. In her rookie season, Caitlin Clark played 31 total games in the WNBA and achieved the 250 assists milestone. Unlike Bueckers, Clark achieved her milestone with a staggering 171 total turnovers.

The numbers tell the contrast clearly. Bueckers averages 5.4 assists and 2.0 turnovers per game. Clark averages 8.5 assists and 5.3 turnovers. Both are elite playmakers, but they are building their legacies in very different ways.

Can Paige Bueckers lead Dallas to a WNBA title this season? Comment below.

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Written by

Utsav Gupta

Edited by

Utsav Gupta