Basketball Intelligence For 2/8/23

Featuring slightly more than just LeBron

LeBron James Sets The Scoring Record

Behind the Scenes of LeBron Being Crowned the NBA’s Scoring King
Seerat Sohi, The Ringer

LeBron's 38,390-point scoring record a triumph in longevity of mind, body
Brian Windhorst/Ramona Shelburne, ESPN

The mission James, 38, has been focused on -- actually make that obsessed with -- for two decades is to maximize. Maximize the athleticism he was born with. Maximize his ability to earn money for his family and raise it for charity. And maximize his chances at winning.

All the points -- the side-step 3-pointers, the dunks (more than 2,000 of them) and all those and-1s (more than 1,400 of them) -- are an outgrowth of James' desire to make the most out of a career he has nurtured with great care.

The Story of LeBron James’s 38,390 Points, by Those Who Were There
Sopan Deb, The New York Times

LeBron James and the slam dunk aging curve
Michael Shearer, Nylon Calculus

Every position dunks the most, as a percentage of field goal attempts, during players’ rookie seasons (outside of LeBron-driven weirdness).

THE ENDLESS WARDROBE OF THE NBA’S NEW SCORING KING
Adam Reisinger, ESPN

Ranking the Best Moments of LeBron James’s Career
Michael Pina, The Ringer

Thunder’s Kenrich Williams is OK with being a future LeBron James trivia answer
Eric Nehm, The Athletic

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Is Greater Than Any Basketball Record
Kurt Streeter, The New York Times

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar no longer No. 1, but he’s still making points
Mirjam Swanson, Orange County Register

Yesterday’s Games

NYK 102, ORL 98

Magic drop home game to Knicks as they keep eyes on standings, play-in race
Khobi Price, Orlando Sentinel