Doing the math on Kobe Bryant’s career scoring total

Kobe Bryant continues to encroach from below, but Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s perch still looks secure.…

Bryant, up to sixth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list after leapfrogging Moses Malone on Tuesday, probably will end the season still about 10,500 points shy of Abdul-Jabbar, the all-time leader with more than 38,000.…

Even if Bryant were to maintain his career average of 25 points a game, it would take him more than five seasons to catch Abdul-Jabbar — and that’s if he plays in every game.…

If he averages 20 points, perhaps a more realistic figure as his physical gifts erode, it would take him 6½ seasons.…

Bryant, 32, is a much safer bet to climb past Michael Jordan, who sits third on the list behind Karl Malone.…

That should happen in 2013-14, barring a lockout.…

It has become increasingly clear why other teams would love to trade for Andrew Bynum and why the Lakers are not interested.…

He’s playing with purpose.…

Orlando Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy, on the Miami Heat’s bemoaning its place in the eye of the storm: “My suggestion would be if you don’t want the scrutiny, you don’t hold a championship celebration before you’ve even practiced together.” …

Jim Tressel’s punishment amounts to a slap on the wrist compared with his Ohio State players’ longer suspensions.…

As the Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers showed again this week, bench-clearing scrums are even more juvenile in spring training than they are during the regular season.…

The Dodgers’ tradition of regularly playing daytime home openers dates to 1977, when Frank Sinatra sang the national anthem before Tom Lasorda’s inaugural opener. …

This year, thanks to ESPN, Clayton Kershaw & Co. open with a night game, March 31 against Tim Lincecum and the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants.…

A flabbergasted Mike Tyson, during an appearance this week on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” joked when shown a pre-diet photo of his thicker self: “Look at the Michigan man.” …

Iron Mike, presumably, was referring to the Michelin Man. …

Readers Gary Stromberg and Ben Quinones e-mail to suggest that redheaded, freckle-faced Mexican boxing sensation Saul “Canelo” Alvarez bears a striking resemblance to redheaded, freckle-faced Clippers rookie Blake Griffin.…

“They both also have knockout power!” Stromberg notes.…

A strong showing in the Pacific 10 Conference tournament would mean more to Nikola Vucevic and USC than it would to UCLA, a cinch to reach the NCAA tournament.…

Harvard’s earning at least a share of its first Ivy League basketball title reminds that until Keith Wright was honored this week, ex-Encino Crespi High forward Joe Carrabino was the only Harvard player ever to be named Ivy League player of the year.…

Carrabino is still the Crimson’s all-time scoring leader.…

Noting that the Kings last opened the playoffs at home in 1992, which means they have never finished among the top four in the West since AEG took over in 1995, reader Libby Walker of Hermosa Beach e-mails to suggest, “Fans deserve better.” …

UCLA women’s basketball Coach Nikki Caldwell, an obviously knowledgeable fill-in for James Worthy on the Lakers’ Channel 9 pre- and postgame shows, has a face for television.…

Carson Palmer, threatening to retire if the Cincinnati Bengals don’t trade him, reportedly has told friends his plan is to “never set foot in Paul Brown Stadium again.” …

According to Wikipedia, Charlie Sheen was a “star” pitcher and shortstop at Santa Monica High and, according to a 2004 ESPN.com report, Sheen made the varsity as a junior and the Vikings “fielded an excellent team in the early 1980s.” …

Neither Wikipedia nor ESPN.com reported that in 1982, Sheen’s junior year, Santa Monica was 3-10 in the Bay League. …

Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert, announcing that Sheen-watching is America’s new national pastime: “Sorry, baseball, call us when the foul lines are drawn in coke.”

jerome.crowe@latimes.com