Lakers

As of Tuesday afternoon, LeBron James is 36 points away from breaking the NBA's all-time scoring record.

“For sure, I never said I wanted to be the all-time leader in scoring. Anthony is ninth on the all-time scoring list with 28,289 points, according to The record is currently $1,137 for Kobe Bryant’s last game in 2016, according to To sit here and be on the brink of it actually happening, it’s pretty crazy.” James started the season with 37,062 points, just 1,325 points below Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record. The news outlet noted that tickets behind the hoops are going for $69,162 each on Vivid Seats and seats nine rows back for $42,845. James can do it in 1,410 if he scores 36 points on Tuesday. For me to be in the company with such a prominent, dominant force like Kareem was, it's an honor." “For me to be in the company with such a prominent, dominant force like Kareem was, it’s an honor,” he said. “I’ve never said I wanted to lead the league in scoring,” he said, according to a The average purchase price for tickets to Thursday’s game is $1,230, which could set a new Lakers record for the average ticket purchase price. [Ticketmaster](https://www.ticketmaster.com/los-angeles-lakers-vs-milwaukee-bucks/event/2C005D0F0DFB0CDB?refArtist=K8vZ91718T0) shows seats for that game in the 300-level sections start at $460 and courtside seats cost as much as $100,000.

The Sporting News has you covered with live score and stat updates on what could be a historic night for LeBron James and the NBA.

10 p.m. 10 7:00 p.m. 7, which is 7 p.m. Viewers can also stream the game on Sling TV. Thunder from Crypto.com Arena will tip off around 10 p.m. - Time: 10:00 p.m. Thunder will air on TNT. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is expected to be at the game as well, as the NBA’s guest. Jay-Z is on hand to potentially witness history. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is in the building to hand the crown to his successor. The Sporting News has you covered with live score and stat updates on what could be a historic night for James and the NBA.

LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar don't have a good relationship, that's a known fact, in fact, it's more accurate to say they don't have a relationship.

[Lebron James' strange desire: I wish I could walk into Starbucks and have my name on the cup like normal people](https://www.marca.com/en/basketball/nba/los-angeles-lakers/2023/02/07/63e2aa38ca4741e8628b464a.html) [LeBron James](https://www.marca.com/en/basketball/nba/lebron-james.html) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar don't have a good relationship, that's a known fact, in fact, it's more accurate to say they don't have a relationship. It was ESPN's Dave McMenamin who first confirmed the presence of Abdul-Jabbar, who won five of his six NBA championships as Los Angeles' tall man. Therefore, Kareem's presence was a question mark in the first real chance that the scepter was handed out. The man born with the name Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. received a standing ovation when his presence was seen on the court and at all times he looked with a tense face as he watched on the Lakers' home screen the points that remained for his mark to be surpassed. That doesn't mean that when the [Los Angeles Lakers](https://www.marca.com/en/basketball/nba/los-angeles-lakers.html) and the [Oklahoma City Thunder](https://www.marca.com/en/basketball/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder.html) are facing off this Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena the presence of the inventor of the Sky-Hook is not important to the "King".

Los Angeles Lakers fans wearing LeBron James jerseys posed for photos in front of a statue of Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

When he took the court for warm-ups, James sported a T-shirt that read "Built by Black History" along with his once-customary headband. James entered the arena in an all-black suit with a gold and black pin that read "Stay present." Not everybody was overly familiar with the Hall of Fame center and his famous skyhook. Now, in a Lakers jersey, he’s set to break a scoring record some considered unbreakable. “He deserves it,’’ said Mike Ballard, who was wearing a Lakers jersey with No. “You can’t take anything away from him because he’s only been here five years.’’

Former Lakers stars and NBA Hall of Famers give their impressions of LeBron James overtaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA's all-time scoring leader.

But I think that with him he just has respect for the game. I think maybe from the time he was probably 10 years old he never was overlooked. He’s going to play a lot of years.’ And I walked out of the gym. He has to have a soul. And I don’t think this is the end of it, at all. … People are going to see a record broken that I never dreamed possible. “I knew LeBron was going to be great, but I didn’t think he was going to be like this. LeBron is one of the few that built his own.” Anybody who comes in the game with the hype, with the name the ‘Chosen One, King James,’ he was one of the few players who lived up to what the hype was all about. But I think the most amazing thing is for him to play this long and never really get in trouble is crazy. The five-time NBA champion grew up in Dayton, Ohio, and has known LeBron James since he was in high school. I need to be on both ends.’ So, I just think over time, man, he just took that on.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James became the NBA's career scoring leader on a stepback jumper late in the third quarter, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record ...

Oklahoma City jumped to a 15-point lead in the first half and hit nearly 60% of its shots. Anthony Davis managed just 13 points, and the Thunder never trailed in the second half. ... Russell Westbrook had 27 points and eight assists. And while James hit his mark, the Lakers took another discouraging loss. Abdul-Jabbar then joined a clearly emotional James and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on the court after the historic basket. “I just want to say thank you to the Laker faithful," James said.

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar is now the top scorer in NBA history, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 38,387 points in the third quarter of Tuesday's matchup ...

"I will not allow myself to think about it. - Four MVP awards Coming into the 2022-23 season, James sat at 37,062 points and well within striking distance of the Hall of Fame center he was chasing, barring injuries.

LeBron James is now the NBAs all-time leading scorer after breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbars record of 38387 career points on Tuesday.

He averaged 20.9 points per game as a rookie, becoming the youngest player to reach 1,000 career points. In 2006, a 21-year-old James topped Kobe Bryant as the youngest ever to 5,000 career points. He totaled 7,919 points in four seasons with the Heat. He has scored 10-plus points in every game he has played in since Jan. Between that bucket and the nearly 40,000 points James has scored since, he won Rookie of the Year, four NBA championships, four MVPs, four Finals MVPs, three All-Star Game MVPs and two Olympic gold medals. He went on to score eight straight points for the Lakers, shooting 3-for-6 over nine minutes in the first quarter. "To be able to be in the presence of such a legend and great as Kareem, it means so much to me. James averaged 20.9 points per game as a rookie and has topped 25 points per every season since, including more than 30 points per game three times. James pulled within single digits of setting the record after hitting consecutive threes in the third. "Everybody that's ever been a part of this run with me the last 20-plus years, I just want to say I thank you so much because I wouldn't be me without y'all," he said. "I just want to say thank you to the Laker faithful, you guys are one of a kind," James said. He long ago was anointed "The Chosen One."

LeBron James is the new all-time NBA record points scorer after finally surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's tally, as the 38-year-old hit the 36 points needed ...

"But my focus has shifted, my focus has shifted back to where it should be, and that's this club now, what we have in the locker room." The debate for who the greatest of all-time continues as James constantly gets compared to Michael Jordan and also Abdul-Jabbar, but his latest accomplishment gives him a huge advantage. But as an individual James has been at his very best, and now has the all-time record to prove it. Irving and James have starred together once before, and the Lakers star couldn't help speak about his disappointment that they wouldn't be linking up again. Even with the standards James sets himself, it's a record that he thought would never be broken. James needed just 36 more points heading into Tuesday's clash against Oklahoma City Thunder to overtake Abdul-Jabbar's tally of 38,387 points, and did so in style by reaching the required total inside three quarters.

LeBron James became the NBA's career scoring leader on a stepback jumper late in the third quarter, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record during his 38-point ...

Oklahoma City jumped to a 15-point lead in the first half and hit nearly 60% of its shots. Anthony Davis managed just 13 points, and the Thunder never trailed in the second half. And while James hit his mark, the Lakers took another discouraging loss. To be able to be in the presence of such a legend as great as Kareem, it's very humbling." Abdul-Jabbar then joined a clearly emotional James and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on the court after the historic basket. "You guys are one of a kind.

Photos of all the celebrities at Crypto.com arena to watch LeBron James surpass Lakers' legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the all-time NBA Scoring title.

NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) 7, 2023 in Los Angeles, CA.(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder meet from LA where LeBron James needs just 36 points to break the All-Time Scoring record.

It’s not every night we get to witness history, but tonight could be one of those nights as LeBron James goes for the All-Time Scoring record in the NBA, and who could think of a more fitting place to do it? Steve Kerr’s team shot 52% from downtown, hitting 26 of 50 three balls and had 43 assists in the 141-114 blowout of the Thunder. The Thunder may be floating under the radar, but their All-Star is one of the top scorers in the league at 30.8 a night, he is tied with Damian Lillard for 5th in the league. That’s two decades of wear and tear on his body, mind and personal life, but to be the best you have to put up with the ups and the downs. He went on to score almost seven thousand more points through the rest of his career and it seemed like that record may never be broken until the kid from Akron swept the NBA off it’s feet even before the Cavaliers drafted him with the number one pick in the 2003 Draft. Rumors were swirling around LA of the possibility of a reunion of LeBron and Kyrie Irving after winning a title together in Cleveland back in 2016. LeBron had 8 points in the first quarter and 12 in the second quarter. FT is good and he's 25 away from the record! It seemed like the chips were falling into place, but the Mavericks beat the Lakers to the punch and LeBron was devastated. LeBron in tranistion and he is fouled by SGA. Both FTs are goo and the Thunder lead by 12 again. It would be bittersweet to break the all time record in a game that you lose.

The Lakers are reportedly trading Russell Westbrook to Utah and reacquiring guard D'Angelo Russell from Minnesota in a three-team, eight-player deal.

The Wolves eventually acquired Russell at the deadline in February 2020 and teamed him with his draft-class pal, Karl-Anthony Towns. The 35-year-old Conley is averaging 10.7 points and 7.7 assists in his fourth season with Utah. The Russell-Towns pairing never really took off, in part because of injuries for each player that often kept them from being on the court at the same time. His style on both ends of the court also could complement James and Davis better than Westbrook, although the Lakers will have little time to figure it out. The 34-year-old Westbrook is making about $47m in the final year of his contract. The Lakers fell to 25-30 on Tuesday while

In order to understand the breaking trade news delivered by The Athletic's Shams Charania, we need to know what happened last night during halftime of the ...

[LeBron James](https://www.marca.com/en/basketball/nba/los-angeles-lakers/2023/02/08/63e3debb22601d42668b461c.html) was the main story of the night, which may be a reason this story was mostly ignored. D'Angelo Russell was an All-Star in 2019 and his performances have the Minnesota Timberwolves in ninth place of the Western Conference. But ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported coach Darvin Ham and [Russell Westbrook](https://www.marca.com/en/basketball/nba/los-angeles-lakers/2023/02/05/63df815a22601df32f8b45ad.html) had a heated argument right before halftime of the game. [Lakers](https://www.marca.com/en/basketball/nba/los-angeles-lakers.html?intcmp=MENUPROD&s_kw=en-nba-los-angeles-lakers), Jazz and Timberwolves are in discussions on a three-team deal that would send D'Angelo Russell to the Lakers, Russell Westbrook and draft compensation such as a first-round pick to Utah and Mike Conley Jr. Considered one of the 2015 Class most talented players, Russell eventually left to play for the Brooklyn Nets' exciting project in 2017. Ongoing discussions have included Utah's Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt as part of the potential three-team deal to the Lakers, sources said.

The Lakers are trading Russell Westbrook to Utah in three-team deal that sends Mike Conley to Minnesota and former No. 2 pick D'Angelo Russell to L.A..

The Lakers traded him to Brooklyn after just two seasons, and the Nets dealt him to Golden State as part of the deal that allowed the Nets to sign Kevin Durant. Russell was on the move again in 2020 when Golden State traded him to Minnesota in the deal that sent Andrew Wiggins to the Warriors. He wasn’t a fit alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis with the Lakers missing the playoffs last season, resulting in coach Frank Vogel’s dismissal, and the Lakers are just 25-30 and in 13th place in the Western Conference this season. Russell returns to the Lakers, the team that drafted him with the No. The Westbrook experiment never quite yielded the results the Lakers sought when they acquired him from Washington in the summer of 2021. The Lakers will also get Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt from Utah.

The Lakers have agreed to a deal to land point guard D'Angelo Russell in a three-team trade involving the Timberwolves and Jazz, sources said.

His 41.7% shooting is in the bottom 10 among players averaging at least 12 field goal attempts this season. Westbrook can still fill up the stat sheet in his 15th NBA season; he's one of just six players to have at least four triple-doubles this season. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. 2 overall by the team in the 2015 NBA draft and played two seasons for Los Angeles before being traded to the ends less than two years after the Lakers acquired the former MVP in the hopes of vaulting the franchise back into title contention. [Donovan Mitchell](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3908809/donovan-mitchell) and [Rudy Gobert](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3032976/rudy-gobert) era in Utah and has helped lead the Jazz to a surprising spot in the play-in race. He's also finishing at an elite rate -- his 65.4% shooting on layups and dunks this season ranks in the top 10 among guards (minimum 125 field goal attempts). If the Lakers' pick to the Jazz is not conveyed in 2027 -- if it falls into the top four -- the pick immediately converts to a 2027 second-round pick, sources told ESPN's Zach Lowe. [LeBron James](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/1966/lebron-james) and [Anthony Davis](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/6583/anthony-davis) led to the Lakers missing the postseason last year and have them in danger of doing the same this season. This will be Russell's second stint with the Lakers. Westbrook's tenure in L.A. [Los Angeles Lakers](/nba/team/_/name/lal/los-angeles-lakers) have agreed to a deal to land [Minnesota](/nba/team/_/name/min/minnesota-timberwolves)'s [D'Angelo Russell](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3136776/dangelo-russell), [Malik Beasley](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3907822/malik-beasley) and [Jarred Vanderbilt](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4278077/jarred-vanderbilt) in a three-team trade also involving the [Utah Jazz](/nba/team/_/name/utah/utah-jazz), sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves are finalizing a three-team trade ahead of the NBA's Feb. 9 deadline, per ESPN's.

While he's had an up-and-down season, Russell averaged 17.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.2 assists in 54 games for Minnesota this season while shooting 46.5 percent from the floor and 39.1 percent from deep. As for the Jazz, they get a primary ball-handler in Westbrook, who had been playing as L.A.'s sixth man this season. Additionally, Toscano-Anderson and Jones give Utah some more depth at small forward and center. The Timberwolves are also adding Alexander-Walker for depth at shooting guard. Adding Beasley gives the Lakers some more depth at shooting guard. some more depth on the wings. Westbrook averaged 15.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 7.5 assists in 52 games with the Purple and Gold while shooting 41.7 percent from the floor and 29.6 percent from deep. He averaged 6.3 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 36 games for the Jazz this year while shooting 48.8 percent from the floor and 40.2 percent from deep. As for Vanderbilt, he gives L.A. In 52 games with Utah this season, he averaged 8.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 55.6 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from deep. Additionally, "Minnesota gets 2024 lesser of Washington-Memphis second round pick and 2025 and 2026 second-round picks via Utah," per Utah is landing Russell Westbrook and L.A.'s 2027 top-four-protected first-round pick.

Here are our instant grades for the three-team blockbuster that beefs up the Lakers' playoff chances.

This deal reunites him with Rudy Gobert after the two starred on the Jazz the last few seasons. The Clippers and Bulls are if it falls into the top-4 -- the pick immediately converts to a 2027 2nd round pick, sources say. At the time of this trade, Utah would enter the lottery at No. It’s pretty hard to believe Jazz top executive Danny Ainge didn’t get the Lakers to unprotect the pick. Utah’s relative success this season was always a nice surprise, but it didn’t help the franchise achieve their long-term goals. It’s remarkable the Lakers were able to upgrade three rotation spots while giving up just one future first round pick five years from now that is still protected inside the top-4. 2 overall in the 2015 [NBA Draft](https://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft) — gives the Lakers a guard with a dribble-pass-shoot skill set even if there have long been questions about his defense and scoring efficiency. 13 in the Western Conference. [Los Angeles Lakers](https://www.silverscreenandroll.com) finally pulled off the trade they have been waiting to make all year. The only question is if they waited too long to make it with the team currently at 25-30 overall and No.

Lakers guard Russell Westbrook and coach Darvin Ham reportedly were involved in a “brief, heated verbal exchange” at halftime in the locker room during Tuesday ...

Westbrook, a nine-time All-Star, would head to Utah after not fitting smoothly with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Minnesota's D'Angelo Russell will return ...

He is a more traditional point guard than Russell and may fit better next to Anthony Edwards, the [third-year guard](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/edwaran01.html) who has emerged as a franchise player for the Timberwolves. The Lakers traded him to the Nets in 2017, before his third season. Russell’s replacement in Minnesota would be Conley, who started 42 games at point guard for the surprisingly resilient Jazz this season. The Jazz will mark Westbrook’s fifth team in five years, an unusual level of movement for a former M.V.P. The Washington Wizards traded Westbrook to the Lakers before the 2021-22 season, giving the Lakers high hopes that he would be part of a so-called superteam with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Only months into the 2019-20 season, Golden State traded him to the Timberwolves, where he played alongside his close friend Karl-Anthony Towns. The Westbrook trade will also send to the Jazz forward Juan Toscano-Anderson, center Damian Jones and a first-round pick in the 2027 draft. Crucially for the Lakers, he will provide another shooter as they attempt to salvage their season: He is shooting 39.1 percent from deep this season. That, along with his below-average perimeter shooting, sunk the chances of him fitting with James and Davis. Westbrook averaged 16.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game off the To acquire Westbrook, the Lakers traded multiple players who were crucial to their championship run in 2020. But in Los Angeles, Westbrook struggled to adjust to coming off the bench and not being the primary ballhandler.