Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd was asked when LeBron James becomes the NBA’s all-time leading scorer next
season, does that mean he’ll also become the greatest player of all-time? Or will that title still belong to Michael Jordan?
“I think LeBron will go down as the greatest to do it,” Kidd said. “When you look at his numbers, what he’s done on and off the floor. No one’s done that.
“You got to put the whole package together. He’s the greatest of all-time.”
Kidd and James were teammates when the United States won the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. In addition, Kidd was an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers the past two seasons – and he, James and the Lakers captured the NBA title in the bubble in 2020.
“He’s competitive,” Kidd said. “He’s the best to do it, he understands the movement — the stage — he’s not afraid and he’s a great human being.
“I learned a lot being with him those two years, but I learned a lot about him when I played with him for the Olympic team.”
At some point next season, James likely will become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. He’s in the No. 2 slot right now with 37,024 points, and only needs 1,364 points to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who has 38,387 points.
“He’s going to hold all the records, which is pretty cool,” Kidd said. “I know growing up as a kid in Akron (Ohio) he wasn’t thinking about 
having to score the most points in league history. He was just thinking about winning, and he’s done that too.
“His focus is like no other. He understands what he’s doing at all times and he always prepares himself. We all dream about having that body and mind, but he takes care of himself. He spends money to make sure that his body and mind is right to work, and he comes to work every day and he always delivers.”
Kidd describes James as a “true competitor” who takes a back seat to no one.
“What he’s doing today I can only imagine what he’s doing or feeling, the points that he’s putting up,” Kidd said. “The way he’s playing at 30-something years old is incredible. A lot of us at that age are just hoping that nothing goes wrong. He delivers.
“He’s playing at a level for a 30-something year old like no one has done before, but that’s just who he is. He’s always going to set the bar.”
The Mavs led the Lakers by 37 points Tuesday night before settling for a 128-110 victory at American Airlines Center. James didn’t play due to a left ankle sprain.
“The legends before him have set the bar — when you talk about Michael, Kobe (Bryant) and those guys,” Kidd said. “And now (James has) taken that bar and he’s raised it a little higher than those guys.
“I think it’s great for our younger generation, because someone else is going to get there one day and raise it.”
James currently leads the NBA in scoring with 30.1 points per game. And that’s no surprise to Kidd, although James is 37 years old and in his 19th season, and the Lakers are just 31-44 and in danger of missing the play-in tournament.
“This year hasn’t gone the way that they all want it to go – injuries being a big part of that,” Kidd said. “My opinion is that (James will) start preparing — once the season is over — for the next season to put himself in a position to win a championship, and that’s what he’s being judged on.
“But that being said, him at this age, 30-something, if he does win the scoring title that’s going to be pretty cool to see at his house that he’s won the scoring title (and) the assist title. If he fails to get to that goal of winning a championship he goes right back to work the following year to try to achieve that.”
KIDD FOR COACH OF THE YEAR: Count Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel among those who believe coach Jason Kidd should be given strong consideration for Coach of the Year.
“I think he should be the Coach of the Year,” Vogel said. “I’m not saying that to get him fired. I say that out of nothing but love.
“He has done a phenomenal job here. I think the way they’re defending, the way they’re playing team basketball, he’s always been as a player and as a head coach, really someone that preaches the extra pass. And the way these guys play is a big part of their success so far this season, and it’s no surprise he’s done a great job.”
The Mavs are 47-29 thus far this season with six games remaining. It’s the most games they’ve won since they posted a 50-32 record during the 2014-‘15 season.
VOGEL ON THE MAVS: Jason Kidd spent the previous two seasons as an assistant coach on the staff of Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel. And Vogel has noticed something very familiar about some of the defensive principles Kidd has employed with the Mavs.
“The schemes we use with the Lakers are very similar to what they’ve implemented here,” Vogel said. “Obviously they’ve had a lot of success with it, but they’re doing a great job on both sides of the ball.
“It’s just one of the things where we had a great couple of years together. J-Kidd and I really learned from each other. I feel like both of us are better off from that time together.”
BRIEFLY: Guard Trey Burke wasn’t at Tuesday’s game because he was in the health and safety protocols. Burke missed Tuesday morning’s Covid-19 testing window. . .The Mavs signed guard Brandon Knight to a second 10-day contract under the COVID-related hardship allowance on Tuesday. Knight inked a 10-day contract with the Mavs on Dec. 23 and played in three games before entering the health and safety protocols. Knight averaged 10 ppg and 2.7 apg in just 18.2 mpg for the Mavs. That includes an 18-point performance which helped the Mavs defeat Portland, 132-117, on Dec. 27. . .So who will be the face of the NBA once LeBron James retires? Will it be Mavs point guard Luka Doncic? “The league is rich with young players — they’re in a good seat,” coach Jason Kidd said. “But Luka is going to be one of those guys that’s going to be featured if Lebron ever leaves the game. Being 23, I would say that Luka has a great chance of being the face of the league.” Kidd joked that: “LeBron is going to play for another 10 years, so Luka will be 33. So, Luka might be too old to be the face (of the NBA).”
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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