The Sunday Mail
As much as LeBron James’ march toward the NBA’s all-time scoring mark might have captured people’s attention outside of the Los Angeles Lakers, James’ goal for this season is to get back into the playoffs whether he scored five or 5,000 points.
James’ 26 points in Friday morning’s 112-111 win over the Indiana Pacers pulled him within 63 points of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record.
However, the victory itself, which brought the Lakers just one game out of the final play-in spot, seemed more significant.
“I think it’s an amazing feat,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said of the scoring record.
“When it happens, kudos to Bron (James) for all his longevity.
“Not just longevity, but longevity at the top of the list at an elite level.
“In our day-to-day, we hardly ever discuss it unless we are asked about it. For us, it’s just, how can we get our team in the best position to make a run?” he said.
James was instrumental in the Lakers’ fourth-quarter comeback against the Pacers, as they trailed 98-90 when he subbed in with just over nine minutes remaining in the final frame.
He scored nine points down the stretch, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2 minutes and 35 seconds remaining to give the Lakers their first lead of the game.
James then added two go-ahead free throws with just over a minute left.
Anthony Davis, who learned after the game that he was not selected as a Western Conference All-Star reserve, was also key in erasing what was once a 15-point deficit, and helped the Lakers to improve to 3-1 in games he’s played since returning from a right foot injury last week.
Davis, who finished with 31 points and 14 rebounds, hit a turnaround fadeaway shot to put the Lakers up 112-111 with 35.3 seconds left.
Then, on Indiana’s next possession, he shut down Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton on his drive to the hoop, swatting his layup attempt with 16.5 seconds left.
Haliburton, who was named an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve, was having a brilliant game with 26 points and 12 assists before Davis stopped him.
“I’m here to win, to try to compete for championships, not to get into All-Star Games,” Davis said.
“My wife is ecstatic. She already texted me, ‘So, where we going [during All-Star break]?'”
Ultimately, honors and accomplishments like All-Star nods and scoring feats are secondary when it comes to winning.
However, they do generate passion and interest in the sport.
James said he never knew that Abdul-Jabbar scored 38,387 points — “I know it’s 38 something,” he said — but he knew the former Laker great was the record-holder.
As a fan of all sports, James said he can relate to why his points piling up throughout his 20-year career to get to this point is significant.
“I think it’s one of the greatest records in sports in general,” James said.
“I think it’s up there with the homerun record in baseball. It’s one of those records that you just don’t ever see or think that would be broken,” he said.
James was asked if he had a 63-point game in him to finish off the record in New Orleans when the Lakers play the Pelicans this weekend to close out their five-game road trip.
“Yeah, I do,” James said with a smile.
“I mean, I don’t know if it will happen on Saturday. But, yeah,” he said. – ESPN
