‘King’ is all-time leading scorer
LeBron James is the NBA’s new career scoring leader.
With a stepback jump shot with 10.9 seconds left in the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night, James pushed his career total to 38,388 points and broke the record that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar held for nearly four decades.
James outstretched his arms, threw both hands in the air, then smiled. Abdul-Jabbar rose from his seat and clapped. The game was stopped as some members of James’s family, including his wife, mother, and his children, took the floor for a ceremony recognizing the moment.
Abdul-Jabbar — one of many celebrities and sports stars who made sure they were there to see history — became the league’s alltime leading scorer on April 5, 1984, and wound up retiring in 1989 with 38,387 points. It was a record that some thought would last forever, with very few even coming close.
Karl Malone retired 1,459 points behind Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant was 4,744 points shy, and Michael Jordan was 6,095 points away.
James passed them all, then caught AbdulJabbar, too. He did it in his 20th season. Abdul-Jabbar also played 20 NBA seasons. Dozens of celebrities gathered to witness history: Denzel Washington, Jay-Z, Bad Bunny, LL Cool J, Usher, Andy Garcia, and countless others. Dozens of basketball greats also turned out, including Lakers heroes James Worthy and Bob McAdoo, along with Dwyane Wade.
The biggest star in the crowd was AbdulJabbar, who has verbally sparred with James in public over issues not directly related to basketball. The Lakers legend known to all as Cap wasn't about to miss history.
Irving practices with Mavs
Kyrie Irving had his first practice with Dallas and was asked if he envisioned any problems playing alongside Mavericks star Luka Doncic.
Irving’s answer: “No.”
The Mavs clearly see it the same way. Irving’s Dallas chapter has started, with a practice in Los Angeles preceding what’s expected to be his debut game there when the Mavericks visit the Clippers Wednesday night. The Mavericks struck a deal Sunday to acquire the eight-time All-Star from the Nets.
“I’ve played with some of the best of all time, greatest of all time,” Irving said.
Heat ship out Dedmon
The Spurs acquired Dewayne Dedmon and a second-round draft from the Heat, with the teams finalizing that deal Tuesday.
The Spurs will receive Miami’s secondround selection in 2028. The Heat got cash considerations, plus more importantly, some newly opened financial flexibility — since they’re not taking any salary back — as well as a roster spot.
Dedmon is averaging 5.7 points in 30 games this season. He played in only one game for Miami after an incident during a Jan. 10 game against Oklahoma City in which he was upset after getting subbed out in the second quarter, argued with Heat players and coaches, then swatted at one of the massage guns behind the bench.
Miami’s Lowry out three games
Kyle Lowry has been ruled out for the Heat’s next three games with a left knee issue, and he could be sidelined even longer.
Lowry is averaging 12.0 points and 5.3 assists on 39.6 percent shooting this season, numbers all down from a year ago when Miami went into the Eastern Conference playoffs as the No. 1 seed. He will miss games against Indiana Wednesday, vs. Houston Friday, and at Orlando Saturday. He didn't play Saturday at Milwaukee because of what the Heat called left knee soreness.