New York – as a bang for the LeBron JamesThe hunt for the all-time NBA scoring record came to a head on Tuesday — playing in the world’s most famous arena in the city where the longtime No. 1 scorer, Kareem Abdul-Jabbarboy – James left his mark with his death.
James dished out 11 assists in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 129-123 overtime win over the New York Knicks, bringing his career total to 10,338 and passing Mark Jackson (10,334) and Steve Nash (10,335) to move into fourth all-time. – Time helps list.
“It’s amazing because that’s what I love to do and get my guys involved,” said James, who added 28 points and 10 rebounds for his first triple-double of the season. twice his 20th season or later. “Anytime you call up some of the greats – Mark Jackson played here, he was drafted here by the Knicks, so it’s great. And obviously we know when Nash was [in the league]I’ve played against him for many years. His ability to pass the ball was absolutely uncanny.”
James’s ability to hold on at such a high level remains another realm, as the 38-year-old superstar is now 89 points away from surpassing Abdul-Jabbar’s record that has stood for nearly 39 years.
“He’s just a kid who grew up in front of our eyes, over the last 20 years at this level, he’s done nothing but play the right way and make the play in front of him,” said Lakers coach Darvin Hamm. . “No matter how much he’s been criticized for a while for not taking final shots and overruns – he just makes the right plays. I watched that again tonight.”
Los Angeles snapped a four-game losing streak in overtime games this season, holding off a late 6-0 Knicks lead in the fourth quarter that tied the game by James and Anthony Davis combined to suffocate Julius Randel And not letting him out of a shot at the end of regulation to force the OT.
Hamm said of Davis, who scored 27 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 steals in just his third game after missing 20 straight games with a right foot injury.
It was a redemptive night for the Lakers given the way their current five-game journey began with an overtime loss in Boston.
Not only did Tuesday’s game finish with better balance in the extra session, however Russell Westbrookwho was on the bench for the entire fourth quarter against the Celtics, was effective.
Westbrook had three assists and made his only shot in overtime, as he finished with 17 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals.
“I’m going to do it. I mean, it’s just a matter of time when I’m going to do it. … I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to be in this league for at least a few more years.”
LeBron James on approaching Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record
“You have a chance to learn from your mistakes, at least I do,” Westbrook said. “You get a chance to watch a movie and learn how you can do the stretch and get good hits or miss or do it. And get stops, which was big for us tonight.”
The Lakers end their trip with matches in Indiana on Thursday and New Orleans on Saturday. If James plays in both and maintains his average of 30.2 points per game, Abdul-Jabbar will pass at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder next Tuesday. The Lakers have another game in Los Angeles next Thursday against Milwaukee on February 9, trade deadline day, before getting back on the road for a two-game trip.
“The team is very excited,” Davies said. “It’s probably a surreal moment for all of us, but maybe more than that. … It’s clear that whatever the game is, we want to be able to win the game.”
James was asked if the idea of an achievement — a record that is hallowed not only in basketball, but in all professional sports — isn’t “heavier” with being so close.
He said, “It’s not getting heavier.” “I’ll do it. I mean, it’s just a matter of time when I’ll do it. It’s not heavy. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be in this league for at least a few more years.”
“I will. It’s not heavy at all.”