He Hopes They Won’t Be the Toast of the Town

The Lakers are 16-3, have won eight in a row and talk of records has already started.

TNT’s Steve Kerr, a member of the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls team that set the NBA record by finishing the regular season 72-10, said he doesn’t think the Lakers can top that.

Taking a cue from the 1972 Miami Dolphins, Kerr said he’ll have a champagne toast once the Lakers lose their 11th game.

But what about the NBA record of 33 victories in a row set by the 1971-72 Lakers? Bill Sharman, the coach of that team, said he’d be thrilled if the Lakers broke that record.

“But only the Lakers,” Sharman said, “I wouldn’t want to see any other team break it.”

Trivia time: What is the second-longest NBA winning streak?

Good seats available: In a column by Miki Turner that ran on ESPN.com, Jack Nicholson, in an interview to promote his new movie, “Something’s Gotta Give,” was asked: “Who will you leave your courtside seats to?”

Nicholson: “Probably the highest bidder.”

Team player: Nicholson was also asked: “Are you a Shaq man or a Kobe man?” His answer: “I’m a Laker man.”

Surprising picks: Isiah Thomas, in a Q&A; with ESPN.com, was asked to name his all-time underrated NBA player.

His answer: “Gail Goodrich.”

Thomas’ toughest opponent: “Maurice Cheeks.”

Regret: Thomas, asked what it would be if he could have a career mulligan, said, “I would shake Michael Jordan’s hand when we walked off the floor after they beat us in 1991.”

Stealing a kiss: Kentucky Coach Tubby Smith told “Loose Cannons” Steve Hartman and Mychal Thompson on XTRA last week that John Wooden was sitting next to his wife when the Wildcats won the NCAA championship in 1998.

“When the buzzer went off, she leaned over and kissed him,” Smith said. “He brags about how he got kissed before I did.”

Honest answer: The Kings’ Sean Avery, in hockey parlance, is known as a “one-ice pest,” which is similar to “enforcer” or “tough guy.”

In a “Go Ask a King” session on the lakings.com Web site, Avery was asked by a fan: “Do you normally look for trouble or does trouble find you?”

Avery: “I think I go out of my way to look for trouble and try to hit a sore spot with an opposing player.”

Language barrier: Avery was also asked, “What is the most important thing you have learned from your fellow linemates, Ian Laperriere and Eric Belanger?”

Avery: “Not a whole lot since I can’t speak French.”

Trivia answer: 20, by the 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks. The 1999-2000 Lakers won 19.

And finally: Frank Caliendo, on Fox’s NFL pregame show last weekend, made the Arizona Cardinals over Chicago his upset pick. “I wish I had a joke as funny as that pick,” he said. He didn’t. The Bears won, 28-3.

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Larry Stewart can be reached at larry.stewart@latimes.com.